Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Senate on Thursday frowned at the request of the executive for virement of N135bn from the 2017 budget to execute certain priority projects, saying it is unconstitutional.
Sundiata Post recalls that the executive had written to the Senate to grant it a request for virement but when the matter came up for consideration at plenary, yesterday, the lawmakers kicked vehemently, saying it is “unconstitutional.” The lawmakers demanded that the matter be quashed.
It took several pleadings from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to prevail on the Senators to down their resistance on the issue and eventually referred the matter to the committee on Appropriation for further action.
The Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu however described the request for virement as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
Ekweremadu argued that if the government wanted to complete some of its priority projects, it should present a supplementary budget and not deny other sectors of projects already approved.
He maintained that the executive should either send a supplementary budget or wait till the next financial year to send a fresh budget and called on his colleagues to uphold the tenets of the constitution.
“Virement is unconstitutional. We must uphold the constitution. When reforming the budget, we should take note of this.
“You can only spend money either through normal budget or through supplementary budget.
“This executive seems not to be interested in the process of budget. They prefer virement. The Appropriation Act is a law. We cannot just approve virement and it is not even in our constitution.
Chairman of the Appropriation Committee Danjuma Goje also frowned at the appearing selective implementation of projects by the Federal Government.
He urged the senate to ensure that the government does not continue the trend of implementing selected priority projects and deviating from the approved budget.(Leadership).
