By Dipo Olowookere

As members of the Senate resume for legislative duties on Tuesday (today), December 12, 2016, one of the major issues that will keep them very busy this week is the 2017 appropriation bill.

Tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to present the 2017 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly by 10am.

However, one thing that is still bordering observers is the position of the red chamber on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for 2017 -2019, yet to be passed.

Last week, the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly stressed that it might not consider the 2017 budget except the MTEF was approved.

How this is solved is what still baffles many keen observers.

Perhaps, the MTEF would be passed by the lawmakers today, but one thing is certain, the Senate will receive and consider the report of its Committee on the MTEF and FSP for 2017-2019 this week and then decide whether to accept or reject it.

Also, a look at the notice paper of the Senate revealed that Senators will screen the nominee of President Buhari for the post of Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu this week.

Mr Magu is presently the acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency.

His screening has been dragging for too long. He was supposed to be screened last week, but was shifted to this week.

Other legislative activities to engage the lawmakers include the consideration of the Committee Report on the North East Development Bill, 2016 Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) budget, 2016 Nigeria Customs Service Budget and the 2016 Budget Report on Postal Service of Nigeria.

On Wednesday, the Senate will inaugurate the Legislative Compliance Committee and hold public hearing on Consumer Protection Act (repeal) and to establish the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill 2016 on Thursday.

http://www.businesspost.ng/2016/12/13/2017-budget-mtef-magu-screening-top-senates-agenda-week/

,,