• Absence of lead debate stalls Senate's discussion on supplementary budget
• Makes 'State of the Nation' address mandatory
THE face-off between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the 2013 budget may soon be over as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has waded into the matter.
Meanwhile, for non-availability of lead debate (preamble), the Senate Thursday suspended the consideration of 2013 Supplementary Budget Bill.
The lawmakers also made it compulsory for any sitting President to deliver a State of the Nation address yearly. This followed the passage of the Conference Bill for an Act to make provision for the State of the Nation Address by the President and for Other Matters Connected therein 2013.
At a meeting between the Senate leadership and the party's Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, in the National Assembly yesterday, the disagreement between the two arms of government over the budget became an issue.
A source informed The Guardian that although the budget issue was not in the agenda for the meeting, it was raised by the lawmakers as one of the issues causing trouble.
It was learnt that Anenih asked the Senate leadership to be given an opportunity to intervene in the matter with a view to sorting out the grey areas and resolving them.
A senator said: "We told him that we are not happy with the treatment we receive from the President on the issues of budget. It is not possible that the President must have his way all the time on the issues of budget. We see it as a mark of serious disrespect for the National Assembly if whatever the President brings to the National Assembly were meant to be rubber-stamped. It is not fair. What about our own constitutional responsibilities on budget?"
It was learnt that the PDP Board of Trustees chairman indicated his interest towards meeting the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the purpose of resolving the impasse.
The House of Representatives had earlier indicated that the amendment Bill sent to it last month might not be attended to.
The Upper Chamber had scheduled in its Thursday Order Paper, the consideration and debate of the lingering amendment request for the supplementary budget. But immediately the debate was set to commence, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, said: "My lead debate is not ready at the moment. So, I am not in a position to take this bill yet. I therefore, move that we suspend this till another legislative day".
Amidst loud laughter, other lawmakers applauded Ndoma-Egba's suggestion and the Bill was suspended indefinitely.
President Jonathan requested the National Assembly to make some amendments to the N4.987trillion 2013 budget.
The key amendment being sought by the President was that the National Assembly should reduce the recurrent expenditure vote from N2.38 trillion that was earlier passed to N2.41 trillion. Jonathan equally wanted the N1.62 trillion capital vote reduced to N1.58 trillion.
He had equally sought amendment to Clauses 6(11), 7 and 10 of the budget, stating that those clauses as passed by the National Assembly were injurious to the spirit of separation of powers and could hamper the work of the Executive arm of government.
The State of the Nation Address seeks to make a sitting President accountable to Nigerians as represented by the National Assembly, render account of his stewardship to the nation and allow for input from members of the National Assembly towards the good governance of the federation.
The Guardian