Senators Protest FG Plans To Roll Over 2017 Capital Projects 

Senators on Tuesday kicked when the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun revealed the president Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government’s intention to roll over at least 60 percent of 2017 capital projects to 2018 budget proposal. 

Adeosun who appeared before the Senate joint Committees on Finance and Appropriations in company of Minister for  Budget and National Planning,   Udoma Udo Udoma,  to give explanation on the releases so far made  for the implementation of the  2017 budget,  noted that there was no stoppage in terms of capital releases and projects simply continues. 

Adeosun hinged the decision to roll over 2017 budget to 2018 based on the advice of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Finance  to the  Executive on how to make the budget more workable

Adeosun said, “we had a rollover from the 2016 to the 2017 budget. there was no stoppage in terms of capital spent. project simply continued. The way in which we allocated the fund, the priotisation was according to the objectives of the economy and growth plan. We were focused on project completion, we priotised projects that were nearer to completion that were critical in the first releases of capital.

“We need more of your support. We have a number of resolutions that we need complete international borrowings . That is where we are on capital 440.9 will be the figure at the end of next week. this excludes the capital that is in the capital transfer.”

However, many senators who spoke during the interactive session with the Ministers said that it is not acceptable for the federal government to roll over 60 percent of 2017 budget to 2018 lamenting that there will be selective implementation of 2017 capital projects. 

In his reaction,  Senator Ibrahim Gumel said what the ministers are doing is going to be very inimical to the interest  All Progressive Congress (APC)  in 2019 general elections.

He added that the ministers misadvised President Muhammadu Buhari because there will be nothing to show for the campaign. 

Also speaking,  Senator John Enoh warned that the development may lead to loss of a whole fiscal year. 

In his contribution, Senator Barau Jubril wondered why the government will roll over capital expenditure when there is drastic improvement in government earnings. 

Earlier Adeosun said, ” the Cumulative releases on current Expenditure is N1.5trillion; We are fully on courses in term of salaries releases.

“Statutory Transfers;N128.8billion: Funds for Pensions N37.8billion; Overheads ;N92.4billion, Service Wide Vote ; 223.6billion, Capital Expenditure; N340.9billion and we successfully raised a N100billion to be released this week. At the end of this week we would have released about N440.9billion on capital budget for 2017.”

She noted that there was no stoppage in terms of capital releases and projects simply continues. 

In her words, “The administration is focusing on completing prioritized projects that were critical to the administration.

“So we will keep the capital going to ensure that the projects are not disrupted from completion.”

Speaking earlier, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation Sen. Danjuma Goje said  the two ministers were at the National Assembly to brief the committees as well as Nigerians on the implementation of the 2017 budget.

“It is very important bearing in mind that the budget was passed by the National Assembly in May and was signed into law by the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on 6th June 2017.

“We are now four months into the implementaion of the budget. Nigerians need to know  how far we have gone and what we are going to achieve, the successes.

“We have heard from the minister of budget and national planning that they intend to submit the 2018 budget this month. By implication, if they bring it this month, they will expect the budget to be approved before the end of the year,” he said.

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