NEWS
Passage of 2023 Budget Suffers Setback
The January-December budget cycle which came into force three years appears to have run into a hitch.
Information from the Senate and the House of Representatives reveals that the National Assembly (NASS) is yet to complete work on reconciling the figures on the various budgetary subheads.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan averred that irreconcilable figures were detected by the Appropriations Committee of the NASS, which necessitated the deliberations and passage being shifted from Wednesday this week to Thursday next week.
“The Appropriation Bill came to the National Assembly with some hurdles and when our Committees on Appropriation in the Senate and House started to reconcile the figures of what we have done and what was presented, the hurdles became obvious and they were not easy to deal with and therefore, our Committees had to start a process of cleaning up the Bill first.
“That process also engaged the Executive arm because the problem came from there. It was concluded only yesterday and our committee secretariat are not able to finish processing the Budget for us to take today,” Senator Lawan said.
Aligning with Senator Lawan, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, affirmed at the close of plenary on Thursday, that there passage of the 2023 Budget would be delayed.
Hon Gbajabiamila said, “By the way, there should have been an announcement earlier; we were meant to close today but, unfortunately, work has to continue.
“There are some things that need to be done and we will adjourn today till Wednesday when we will pass the budget and close for the year.
“We were meant to close today but you know our work is a very tough one. We will come back on Wednesday. We will adjourn today and come back on Wednesday, just for that one item – pass the budget and the Finance Bill.”
concurring, Senator Lawan added, “We can only receive the report and consider it on Wednesday, December 28th. So far, this Ninth National Assembly has done so much to pass the previous Appropriations since 2019 before the end of the year.”
While both arms of the National Assembly are focused on finalising the passage of the 2023 budget, albeit, hurriedly, those who know, however, maintain that their output is the input of the relevant arms of the Executive before the assent of President, which might take weeks or months.
The standard of passing the Appropriation Act is that when the National Assembly is done with its work, it transmits the budget back to the Executive.
At this level, the relevant ministries, especially the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, usually peruse the content before it is tabled before President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.
The movement of the budget from the NASS to the Executive arm for review before getting to the table of the President might take weeks.
A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi yencountered a “hard landing” on Sunday.
According to report, the incident took place near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
However, details regarding the incident were not disclosed.
The Associated Press noted uncertainty regarding whether bh Raisi was onboard the helicopter during the incident.
Despite rescue efforts, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hindered access to the site, according to state TV.
Before the helicopter incident, President Ebrahim Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
This dam marks the third joint construction project between the two nations on the Aras River.
Despite Iran’s diverse helicopter fleet, obtaining parts is hindered by international sanctions, with much of its military air fleet dating back to pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.
Raisi, aged 63, is known for his hard-line stance and previously served as the country’s judiciary leader.
Considered a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts speculate that Raisi could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the event of his resignation or demise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.
According to him, the plot, involving both foreigners and Congolese citizens, unfolded in the early hours outside the residence of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Gombe district, close to the president’s offices at the Palais de la Nation.
General Sylvain Ekenge announced on national television that the defence and security forces had successfully thwarted the coup attempt.
He said “An attempted coup d’etat has been stopped by the defence and security forces. The foreigners and Congolese…including their leader” would “all no longer cause any harm”.
Shots were heard near the Palais de la Nation during the attempted coup, as confirmed by various sources.
General Ekenge didn’t elaborate further on the incident, and AFP’s attempts to get additional information from official sources remain unanswered.
However by late morning, the city appeared calm.
Early social media reports suggested an armed attack on Kamerhe’s residence, with some assailants heading towards the Palais de la Nation.
“This morning, there was an armed attack at the residence of the economy minister,” wrote Japan’s ambassador Hidetoshi Ogawa on X.
He stated that Kamerhe “was not harmed, but two policemen and an assailant were killed according to sources.”
France’s ambassador reported hearing automatic weapons fire in the area and advised French nationals to steer clear of the location.
Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals in military attire at the Palais de la Nation, waving flags of Zaire, the former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the regime of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was ousted in 1997.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed all transition committee chairmen in the state’s 21 local government areas.
This decision was detailed in a letter titled “Expiration of Tenure and Handover to Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),” dated May 17, 2024, and signed by Collins Nwabunwanne, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs.
According to the letter, the directive will be effective starting Monday, May 20, 2024.
The letter read, “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to handover the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), in your respective Local Government Councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”
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