The Senate on Tuesday approve President Muhammadu Buhari request of N208, 821, 671, 494 Virement of Funds appropriated for Special Intervention for funding of critical recurrent and capital items.
The approval follow the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Appropriation in their report presented by its chairman. Senator Danjuma Goje. “The Committee Wishes to recommend the virement of the total sum of NN208, 821, 671, 494 (N39, 208, 367, 476 capital component and N169, 613, 304, 018 capital component of the Special Intervention Programme of the 2016 Appropriation Act” Goje said.
He further stated that the funds is justified by shortfalls in provisions for personnel cost, the depreciation of Naira, continuing requirements to sustain the war against insurgency and inadequate provision for some items like the Amnesty programme in the Niger Delta.
In his contribution Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu observed that virement is not constitutional. He said it was a military concept that is not in the constitutional. Ekweremadu refer to section 81(4) to support his argument
The Senate President Bukola Saraki said the approval is part of the legislators coperation with the executive. “This is part of our coperation with executive. So it surprise me when people out there are insunating that there are problem between the legislators and the executive” Saraki said.
He added that with the approval all the necessary agencies facing lack of funds will move forward. “It will also ensure payment of local contractors and proper implementation of 2016 Budget” Saraki said
