The Senate has said the Executive's commitment to full implementation of the 2013 budget would be demonstrated by signing it the way it was passed by the National Assembly.
It also said that as a law, President Goodluck Jonathan must comply with the Appropriation Act.
Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, told our correspondent that “the ball is now in the court of the Executive to fully implement the budget. For the first time, we have passed the budget before the beginning of the year of implementation.”
According to him, the issue tied to the non-implementation of the budget will not arise any longer.
“We have done our part and we worked tirelessly to pass the budget,” he said.
When asked if the National Assembly got any commitment from the Executive to implement the budget in full during the series of meetings held with the Executive before the budget was passed, Ndoma-Egba said, “That question should be put before the Executive, not the National Assembly.”
Senate Spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, however, told our correspondent that the only commitment needed from the President was for him to implement the budget and sign it into law.
He said, “Once the President signs the budget, it becomes law and that is his commitment — that he implements it to the best of his ability.”
He added that the National Assembly had done its part by passing the budget and it was optimistic of a better implementation next year.
Ekweremadu, at the passage of budget on Thursday, enjoined committees of the Senate to be prepared to carry out effective oversight on the 2013 budget beginning from January to ensure maximum implementation.
