Again, Buhari asks NASS to pass budgets of CBN, NNPC, others

President Muham­madu Buhari has again urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the budgets of some statutory corpora­tions and agencies.

Among corporations and agencies number­ing 29, whose budget requires the passage of the National Assembly are the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Federal Inland Rev­enue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The fresh appeal was made yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special As­sistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

While briefing jour­nalists, Enang stated that “it is a requirement of the law that the National Assembly as a legislative body should consider and pass the budget of each of them.”

According to Enang, the need for the passage of the budgets for cor­porations and agencies is imperative because the total expenditure of their collective budgets amount to the figure be spent annually by the country.

He added that passing the budgets of the corpo­rations would also create employment opportuni­ties in the agencies and parastatals.

The former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business in the 7th Senate disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Appro­priation Act has been assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the budget would create job oppor­tunities in formal and informal sectors of the economy.

He said: “The Fed­eral Capital Territory (FCT) Appropriation Act 2016 passed by the National Assembly has been signed to by Mr. President. The legal im­plantation of the budget, therefore comes into ef­fect, which will result in employment in the formal sectors, and in­formal sectors through projects implementation and employment there from arising.”