Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Speaker, House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara; and Minister of Budget and
National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, are among top public officials
that will dissect the budgetary process as a key interface between the
Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Nigeria.
The event is a Colloquium conceived by OrderPaper.ng, Nigeria’s premier
independent parliamentary reporting portal to address contentious issues
on the Budget and will bring together several top government officials
from both arms of government to share ideas, perspectives and experiences
on the Appropriation process as provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as
amended).
The high-profile event billed to hold on September 26, 2016 in Abuja will
attract attendance and participation from critical stakeholders in the
Executive, Legislature (National and State Assemblies), Academia, Media,
Nigeria’s Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations,
Community-based Organizations, Private Sector and other stakeholders,
including political operators across partisan divides.
According to Mr. Oke Epia, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of OrderPaper.ng,
“the focus on the budget at the Colloquium in September is a deliberate
attempt to address fundamental issues that have arisen on the budget
especially in recent times.
“There is need to deepen the debate about which arm of government plays
what roles in the Appropriation Process and to exactly what extent. Where
does the National Assembly’s power of appropriation begins and ends? Is
the Executive vested with unquestionable powers regarding the estimates it
sends to the Legislature as annual Budgets? Or on the reverse, is the
Legislature conferred with such far-reaching powers as to be able to
substantially alter the estimates so received from Mr. President or a
State Governor? What about the disturbing lexicon of ‘Padding’ that has
dogged the 2016 budget like a leech? These are questions to be addressed
by a holistic gathering of Executive; Legislature; Experts in
Constitutional Law; and Civil Society actors, among others invited to
attend The Gallery Colloquium on September 26.”
It is noteworthy that Tambuwal before his ascension to the Executive
position of Sokoto State Governor, was Speaker of the House of
Representatives in the 7th Assembly and had also been a principal officer
of the lower chamber in the preceding tenure. He is expected to add a rich
comparative perspective to the Budget debate with his experience across
both arms of government.
Speaker Dogara on the other hand, being a key figure in the 2016 Budget
process that has continually been dogged by controversy, is expected to
bring his contemporary experience especially with respect to the
controversial concept of ‘padding’ to bear on the conversations come
September 26.
Sen. Udoma as Minister in charge of the national budget and one who has
been a Leader of the Senate and former Chairman of the Appropriation
Committee of the Upper Chamber, is expected to deliver a keynote address
that will enrich the debate on the budget.
The Colloquium, tagged ‘The Gallery’ is a signature programme of
OrderPaper.ng conceived to provide a platform for various stakeholders in
the democratic project to cross-fertilize ideas and proffer suggestions
and solutions on thorny issues bordering on the triumvirate of
Legislature; the Executive; and the Electorate.
The broad Objective of The Gallery is to provide a forum to smoothen rough
edges towards better inter-governmental relations and improved cooperation
for the ultimate benefit of democracy and the Nigerian nation in general.
OrderPaper.ng is Nigeria’s premier multi-platform media company dedicated
to reporting, tracking and archiving activities of the legislature as an
arm of government for the digital generation. As the first authentic and
independently-driven online medium of interface between citizens and
elected representatives, its mission is to deepen democratic growth and
development. OrderPaper.ng is non-partisan, non-aligned and
non-discriminatory; and is founded on and guided by TRUTH, BALANCE,
FAIRNESS and the pursuit of EQUITY.