Today’s presentation of the 2014 budget at the joint session of the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan has been put off
The disagreement over the benchmark was adduced by Jonathan for the postponement.
In a letter to the senate , Jonathan said until there is harmony in the benchmark between both houses, he would not be able to present the budget.
It would be recalled that the 2014 budget presentation scheduled for last week Tuesday was postponed to today, due to the delay in the passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) by the National Assembly.
The parliament was not able to conclude the consideration and passage of the MTEF and the FSP, which were submitted by the president in September.
The leadership of the National Assembly met with the president and agreed that the budget presentation be postponed to today to enable both chambers conclude deliberations on the MTEF and FSP report submitted by their respective standing committees.
The oil benchmark proposed by the president is $75 per barrel, while the Senate and the House of Representatives proposed $76.5 and $79 per barrel respectively.
The planned strike by the staff of the Assembly over welfare issues, and the insistence by some members of the House of Representatives that Jonathan would not be allowed to present his current budget unless and until full implementation of the last budget was met were also factors.
.As a result of today’s budget presentation, all civil servants working in the National Assembly who are below grade level 015, were directed to stay away from the parliament until it is 2pm ,to stave off protests that could end up being embarrassing scenes for the president
A statement signed by the Director, Personnel Management of the National Assembly, Ishaya Habu Sarki, said: “Please, note that officers affected who flout this (sic) directives shall be made to face very strict disciplinary action”.
Civil and business activities, including transportation in and out of the National Assembly Complex, were placed under strict restriction.
In addition, eateries, business centres and banks were directed to close shops today, in the efforts to ensure a hitch free budget presentation by the President.