By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The implementation of the 2017 budget has been described as very poor, a development that has affected all parts of the economy adversely.
A member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Timothy Golu expressed this, while fielding questions from newsmen on the sidelines of the two-day Retreat On Ensuring Legislative and Executive Harmony in Budget Initiation and Implementation for Council Chairmen and Councillors of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Friday in Kaduna.
On why there was poor implementation of the budget by the executive arm, he said it may be as a result of lack of foresight.
“The Executive should release funds for projects. All you hear from the Ministry of Finance is there us no money, but the agencies that generate revenue for government are claiming they exceeded their targets. So where is the money going to?” He queried.
He charged the Executive arms at the state and the federal level to always ensure they implement their budgets because when passed they become laws and not implementing them is breakk kkking of laws.
Earlier in his opening address, Chairman, House Committee on FCT and Area Councils and Auxiliary Matters,
Hon. Zaphana Jisalo said that the retreat seeks to bring together both the Executive and the Legislature Arms of governance to create a forum where they can increase their knowledge of the budgeting process formulate better understandings of the problems associated with budgets, and find ways to eliminate identified problems.
“It is my pleasure to be here with you to unveil today’s event, a retreat to initiate harmony in the budgetary process of
Capital Area Councils with the legislative Organs. This yawning gap citizens and for
deserves to be bridged for the interest of our democracy.
Capital Area Councils with the legislative Organs. This yawning gap citizens and for
deserves to be bridged for the interest of our democracy.
“A Retreat of this nature and theme could not have come at a better time than now, to address some salient developments in our economy our nation’s drive to move away from economic recession, resources, while avoiding occasional disagreements between the Executives and Legislative branches of government over Budgets,” Jisalo who was represented by Honourable Golu said.
He explained that any move towards these directions certainly strengthens the budgetary process and eliminates delays in their passage.
“A good budgetary process, is indeed a negotiated budget, and with such process properly put in place, democracy dividends are assured for the electorates,” he noted.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, FCT, Honourable Joseph Shazin said that it was unfortunate that in this part of the world, capital budgets are often left unimplemented.
He said this is as a result of rising costs of recurrent expenditure.
“In my LGA we pay workers FG salary scale. Those retired, we also give them additional incentives,” he added.
Honourable Shazin frowned at the control of LGAs funds by state governments but said in the FCT, they are however lucky as their allocations are not being tampered with.
The retreat which attracted local council chairmen and councillors from the FCT was organised by Alcott Consult Ltd in collaboration with the House Committee on Area Councils and Ancillary Matters.
