The bill seeking for an establishment of Independent National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) were on Wednesday senate plenary being 27th of April 2016, received the blessing from the senate and scaled through the second reading and were referred to the senate committee on ethics and privileges by the senate president who were represented by the deputy president of the senate, senator Ike Ekweremmadu.
The mover of the Bill ; senator. Babajide Omoworare (Osun East). Started by saying; “A Bill for an Act to established an Independent National Assembly Budget and Research Office, which shall provide the National Assembly with objective, timely and non-partisan analysis needed for Economic and Budget decision and other related matters, 2016 (SB. 222) – Second Reading.’’
He further said that the bill will help in smooth passage of Appropriation bills. That we all knows whenever a budgetary year comes to the National Assemble for legislative actions, it will becomes another seasons of politics of budget padding or no padding. He also stressed out that such office for legislative budget research also existed in the United States of America legistive arm that is US Congress known as Congress Budget Office. Charge with same duties of NABRO. Which collates data and analyzed them for legislative use? the bill if being passed will provide enabling environment for index proper budgetary analysis as the agency Independent National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) will be made of experts and those with index knowledge as regards to budgetary system based on what is the true nature of economic realities at the time the budget will be deliberated. it will make executive and legislature to be on the same page over budget matters and will be added advantage during oversight.
However, Senator. Babajide made it clear that the Independent National Assembly Budget and Research Office needs no additional financial implications for financing its operations as to regards to this bill since the agency (NABRO) have been in a existence for over many years and have been funded by National Assembly that the Bill is only seeking a legal framework from Act of parliament for NABRO to efficiently discharge her duties as an agency.
Among whom Contributed to the success of the Bill during second reading were senator. Sara Jubril; according to him the bill came at the right time, he expressed his appreciation to the sponsor of the bill senator. Babajide Omoworare (Osun East),he said the agency when established will help to collates data and analyzed data for National Assembly budgetary system. Time have past when we just collates any how figures from executive and passed it. He added.
While senator. Shehu sani took out time urging the members of the red chambers to support the success of this bill. stressing out that the bill will go a long way in tracking the budget expenditure and it will even make easier for oversight unlike what is obtainable in US congress were there exist congress budget office.
The contribution of Senator. Solomon Adeola became almost controversial when senator. Musa Kwamkwaso raised point of order seeking senator Solomon Adeola to retrieve his comments that he represent the largest constituency in Nigeria sighting that when a matter is before court of competent jurisdiction no party is allowed to make reference on same matter that last population census put kano state to be the most populated states in Nigeria of which the lagos state have gone to court and that is pending issue before the court in which senator Solomon Adeola had made reference with. However he was ruled out of Order by the deputy president of senate who presided over the plenary today un behalf of senate president. Resuming for his comtribution. Senator. Solomon.
Senator. Mao Ohabunwa. Said the Agency if scale through will be a clearing house for budgetary system in this country. While senator. Dino Melaye were of the opinion that the bill seeking to established NABRO should honestly with sincerity of purpose monitored to avert looting our common wealth.
Based on this, the senate president now ruled that the bill should be referred to the ethics committee and privilege and they should report back to the senate in four(4) weeks.
— Okorochukwu Ikechukwu ( Correspondent)
