Late Presentation Of Budget Delays Passage – Lawmaker

By Israel Afolabi

Late submission of Budget Estimates to the Legislature has been the major hindrance to Budget passage in Nigeria.

Chairman, State of Osun House of Assembly Committee on Public Account, Hon Rasheed Afolabi made this known to Osun Defender correspondent at his office during an interaction.

Hon Afolabi observed that both the National and State Assemblies have a constituted power to scrutinise the presented budget by the executive.

He frowned at late passage of the Nation’s budget which is not going down well with the economy of the country.

According to him, “The National Assembly should not have inserted the new projects into the proposed budget”.

“Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly designed and cost benefit analysis is not carried out on them which will be difficult to execute, even the act of inserting new projects is not good for economic growth” he added.

The lawmaker condemned the delay in budget passage due to the effects on economy. He urged the executive at all levels to work on budget on time for the success of its passage.

He advised the executive to present its budget estimate around first week of the last quarter of the year as it is done in advance country of the world.

He therefore said that preparation of budget depend on a lot of willingness of the executive, while urging the ministers and commissioners to liaise with ministry of Budget and planning for guidance.

He said “there should be a deadline for the budget presentation by executives and logistic should be in order too”.

“If not that the constitution compelled state Governors and President to submit budget on or before 31st day of the last month, some have been relenting on sending their budget proposals” he also added.

The legislator maintained that the budget should be submitted latest by September every year for proper work on the estimates.

He warned against late submission of budget proposal because it creates room for late passage.

He said the annual budget which symbolises the distribution of resources must reflect these values which they swore to uphold in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, he urged all the relevant stakeholders to gear up their ability to work on the success of yearly budgets.