SENATE RECEIVES EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION ON LAYING OF 2018 BUDGET & PASSES THREE BILLS FOR SECOND READING
The much talked about presentation of 2018 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari is gradually coming to fruition with the acknowledgement of an Executive Communication from the Presidency informing the Senate of the readiness of President Muhammadu Buhari to lay the 2018 Annual Estimates before the Joint Session of National Assembly on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 in the House of Representatives Chamber.
The Executive Communication was read on the floor of the Upper Legislative Chamber by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. He added that the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation would lay the 2018 Appropriation Bill in accordance with Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution.
Nonetheless, the Red Chamber has deliberated upon and passed for second reading three legislation. Among the Bills that progressed to the next legislative stage include:
1) A Bill for an Act to establish the National Tea and Coffee Development Council and for other connected matters, 2017 (S.B. 462), sponsored by Sen. Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture to report back in four weeks.
2) A Bill for an Act to provide for legal, fiscal and regulatory framework for sustainable energy development in Nigeria with the overall objective of providing clean, affordable, adequate and reliable energy and for other related matters, 2017 (S.B. 431), sponsored by Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Power, Steel and Metallurgy.
3) A Bill for an Act amend the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Act CAP F6 LFN 2004 and for other matters connected therewith, 2017 (S.B. 115), sponsored by Sen. David Umaru (Niger East). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to report back in four weeks.
Similarly, the Senate has considered and approved the 2017 Budget of two Federal Agencies. Among the Agencies whose budget were approved include Raw Materials Research and Development Council’s 2017 budget of N5.6 billion. While, the budget of National Lottery Regulatory Commission of N2.67 billion was also approved. On the flip side, the budget of National Agency for Food and Drug, Administration and Control Agency (NAFDAC) was negative when it was put on voice vote.
Also, A Bill for an Act establish the Nigerian Bank of Industry charged with the responsibility of providing capital to indigenous entrepreneurs, corporate bodies and persons for medium and long term investment for industrialization and for related matters, 2017 (S.B. 366), sponsored by Sen. Sam Egwu was stood down for lack of vital information on the legislation.