Just less than 24 hours before the expiration of the 2016 budget on Friday, May 5, the Nigerian Senate has stepped down the presentation of the report of Senate Committee on Appropriations on the 2017 budget. Daily Trust reports that the event which had been listed on the order paper has been stepped down by deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu during plenary on Thursday, May 4. Senate leader Ahmad Lawan had last Thursday said the report would be laid last Tuesday, May 2 passed on Wednesday May 3 and transmitted to the President today Thursday. However, Senator Ekweremadu said the stepping down of the report was to enable members of the Appropriations committee in both the Senate and House of Representatives complete the harmonization of their report.

With this development, the country would be without a budget till next week when the 2017 appropriations act would have another chance at being passed.


The Senate does not sit on Fridays or at the weekend. Premium Times had quoted chairman of the Senate committee on appropriations Danjuma Goje as saying on Monday, March 28 that the law backing the 2016 budget, 2016 Appropriations Act, provides that the budget shall run for 12 months. “As far as the Bill that was signed into law by Mr. President is concerned, there will be no mop up on 31st March 2017 since the validity period for the 2016 budget ends midnight May 5th, 2017, ” said Goje. Daily Sun had also raised the alarm, on Monday, May 1, about what the delay in the passing of the budget could mean for the country.



It wrote: "A major constitutional crisis is looming over the 2017 budget, if the National Assembly fails to pass it on or before Friday, multiple sources close to the legislature have told Daily Sun. "The 2016 budget, which has its lifespan, specifically the capital expenditure, will expire Friday, thereby, placing huge encumbrances to government spending."
It notes that further that the development is unprecedented as the Federal government has "never experienced a shutdown since the beginning of the Fourth Republic as it has always wriggled out of budget crisis before the constitutionally approved period".

What will Nigeria do now? Daily Sun reports that President Buhari will now have to rely on a section of the constitution that has never been used before. Section 82 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that the federal government can draw from funds in the Consolidated Revenue if the budget is not ready in time. The section reads: “If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the president may authorise the withdrawal of moneys in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government of the Federation for a period not exceeding six months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriate Act, whichever is the earlier.
“Provided the withdrawal in respect of any such period shall not exceed the amount authorised to be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation under the provisions of the Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding financial year, being an amount proportionate to the total amount so authorised for the immediately preceding financial year.”
Despite that the drafters of the constitution have prepared for such eventuality as is being ccurrently witnessed with 2017 budget, there is no doubt that for the first time in recent history, Nigeria is in uncharted territory.

Continue Reading: http://www.naijanewspapers.com.ng/2017/05/just-in-govt-shutdown-looms-as-senate.html

Is there another shutdown more than the current one?

For the first time in history

Interesting times. The president is AWOL, the presidency is confused, NA is displaying flagrant show of power. To think we are almost human

hmm

dealslip:
Interesting times. The president is AWOL, the presidency is confused, NA is displaying flagrant show of power. To think we are almost human

They should kuku collapse the country make every body go him papa house.

Me iono kuku read the story Nigeria na fk country before na

three:
Is there another shutdown more than the current one?

Yea good move.. delay it.. Till we know who is in Charge of this govt... The cabal on ground will only loot the treasury as it is glaring to the blind eye that we have no president for now.

yea..... we understand they are trying to pad-up well to avoid Abdumumin saga.

when are they sharing those billions that was discovered na? i heard pple saying it belongs to us. i need my share oo

Abeg Old Ashawo no de fear big prick ...Stories , Nigeria govt has been on shut down since may 29th 2015 so please another story abeg

Feople are still enjoying in this country I tell you that for free. How is the house supposed to care when there bonus, wages and allowances are not affected.

Watch out as soon as the Senate president and their accountant figure out where to loot money surely the budget will come out.

This is the worst senate we have had in recent times

Jonathan why are you so heartless?

There is problem already,RCC(relnord const. company)is closing all their sites due to lack of fund.