Senate Berates Udoma Over 2017 Budget
The Senate has singled out the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma for blame over the delay in the 2017 budget project.
The Minister had reportedly blamed the legislature for not meeting the October target of submitting the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
Udoma reportedly that the lawmakers failed to give the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper. This, he said, has stalled the ministry’s plan to present the 2017 budget before the National Assembly.
Saraki, Ndume Fault Udoma’s Claim
Senator Ali Ndume however berated the Minister over the report.
“We received the MTEF on 30th September instead of submitting it according to law by 1st of September — not later than. That is not even the problem.”
“If you look at this document that they call MTEF, it is empty and it doesn’t contain anything. I wrote a letter to the Minister of Budget and National Planning.
“In the third paragraph, I stated, ‘To enable the Senate objectively review the MTEF from a holistic fiscal perspective, we deem it necessary to invite you to a meeting to brief the leadership of the Senate on Tuesday, 1st November.’ But the minister failed to turn up.”
Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his speech said he read the allegation against the National Assembly in the newspaper. He said he had contacted Udoma on the matter and the minister denied..
Saraki said, “He denied the article and promised that he was going to make a statement to debunk it. He sent me an email saying that he never gave the interview.
