In Nigeria, the two chambers of the National Assembly are yet to consider the bill for the release of N242 billion for the 2019 General Elections presented to them last month by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The special sitting fixed for last Tuesday to discuss the budget was aborted because many lawmakers have traveled for the hajj while others are out of the country on holiday.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was upbeat after the INEC meeting with leaders of the National Assembly on how the proposed budget for the 2019 elections could be speedily considered and appropriated. He was assured of speedy passage of the budget as early as next week.
But some senators are not comfortable with the request presented by President Buhari. They worry that it will involve a variety of committees that would work on the budget including the Appropriations, Finance, INEC and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). They complained that it would take the appropriations committees a long time to sort out all the issues involved.
Some lawmakers have blamed the situation on the defection of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, noting that it would take up to three weeks to resolve the outstanding matterss. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, was reported to have held a meeting last Wednesday with all the party’s senators in connection with the suspension of the special sitting on INEC Budget. It remains to be seen what impact that meeting will make.
