Reps jubilate as Jonathan postpones budget presentation to N’ Assembly November 19, 2013 by John Ameh, Abuja 1 Comment Members of the House of Representatives jubilated on Tuesday as President Goodluck Jonathan cancelled his scheduled visit to the National Assembly to present the estimates of the 2014 budget to a joint session of the legislature. It was the second time in one week that the President’s visit was scuttled at the last minute. The mild drama took place at the plenary session of the House as the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, read a letter from Jonathan stating why he would no longer visit the lawmakers. The President said the failure of the two chambers to harmonise their differences on the crude oil benchmark of the budget had necessitated the cancellation. While the Senate passed $76.5 per barrel as the benchmark, the House passed $79, consistent with the benchmark of the 2013 budget. Jonathan’s letter read, “Considering the fact that, whereas the Distinguished Senate has approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework based on a benchmark of $76.5 per barrel, the Honurable House of Representatives has used a benchmark of $79 per barrel, it is infeasible for me to present the budget in the absence of a harmonised position on the MTEF. “In the circumstance, it has become necessary to defer the presentation of the 2014 Budget to a Joint Session of the National Assembly until such a time when both respected chambers would have harmonised their positions on the MTEF. “It is my hope that this will be in the shortest possible time.” A thunderous applause followed the conclusion of the letter as presented by Tambuwal. Shouts of “yes, correct”, “correct talk”, “let him not come, “we said so”, “that is right” and “he should stay away” were heard as members gave a round of applause and shook hands.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 00:34:51 +0000
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