By; IYOKPO J. EGBODO, Abuja.
THE House of Representatives has suspended its plenary to allow its standing committees to work on the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Jonathan Gaza, told journalists at the National Assembly yesterday that the committees would use the Three weeks break to meet with the MDAs, as well as carry out oversight functions on how far the 2016 budget has been implemented.
Gaza explained that a new dimension has been added to the House’s budgeting as committee sittings would be open to members of the public, as well as civil society organisations.
“We hope to be done with the budget within the time frame we have set for ourselves”, the lawmaker stated.
Meanwhile, the House yesterday resolved to set up a committee to monitor the various steps and policies of the Federal Government towards addressing the current economic challenges in the country.
Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Emmanuel Orker-Jev in the motion titled; Urgent Need for more Pro-Active Steps to Abate the Hardships Being Experienced by Nigerians as a Result of the Current Economic Recession” noted that the committee to be named “Tactical Committee on Economic Recession”, will interact with the various ministries and agencies relevant to overcoming the challenges.
Also in the Committee’s mandate is for it to liaise with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Civil Society Organisations and any other body that is considered relevant in the bid to arrest the recession and return the economy to the path of growth and stability, among others.