By Disun Amosun
The yearly clamour by some government institutions to be exempted from the envelope system, which resonates loudest during the yearly budget defence exercises by MDAs, has led the House of Representatives to adopt a review of the budget ceiling and develop a resource framework as a supporting alternative.
Rep. Nasir Gboyega Isiaka (Yewa North/Imeko Afon Federal constituency) who raised the need to investigate the funding structure of beneficiaries of the national budget said a review was pertinent for exemption of some institutions from the envelope regime on the national budgetary system.
The lawmaker observed that the National Assembly, under Sections 80 81 of the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) is responsible for over sighting the executive branch of government by ensuring budget provisions are complied with.
He noted further that recent clinical examination reveals that there is no law conferring entitlement or excluding some beneficiaries from the national budget.
The House in plenary then mandated the Committee on National Planning and Economic Development to investigate beneficiaries of the national budget to determine their respective funding structure in accordance with the relevant laws and authorization.
In addition, the Committee is to review the need for exemption of some government institutions from the budget envelope regime on the national budget system.
In adopting the resolution of the motion, the House also recommends a review of the budget ceiling and identifies any MDA that needs to be exempted from the encumbrance budgeting system.
