The Senate Leader, Senator Muhammed Ndume, has educated some media operators who came up earlier in the day with a story that the 2016 budget proposal submitted by President Muhammud Buhari was missing that there is no way budget can be missing.
Ndume explained that apart from the ceremonial copy laid by President Buhari, each chamber will also have its own copy of the budget proposal, adding that once the budget is laid, it has become the property of the National Assembly.
He said while clarifying the issue that the lawmakers have the responsibility to scrutinize it and that once it is passed and signed by the President, it becomes a law.
Ndume said: “Budget cannot be missing. One copy can be laid. It is a symbolic copy.
“The budget will be in custody of both chambers. It cannot be stolen. It cannot be missing.
“Once the budget is laid in the National Assembly, it has become the property of National Assembly.
“Saraki’s visit to Vila is for Senate to know the President’s priority. We want to see how we can fast track the passage of the budget before the end of February. What is before the Senate is a proposal.
“Once the President signs it, it cannot be amended. We can turn the budget upside down. It cannot be missing.” [myad]
