OrderPaperToday- President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki has stated that the National Assembly will take a critical look at budgetary allocation to agricultural and mineral sectors.
Saraki started this Wednesday during the budget deliberations at the Senate.
Speaking on diversification of Nigeria’s economy, he said the senate would also take a look at the issue of benchmark and various budgetary allocations with the view to ensuring equitable distribution.
“It is important that the issue of blocking leakages is key and from the experience of the past we must learn from the past to work towards the future.
“There were lots of talk in the issue of fighting corruption and the need for the relevant agencies to be adequately funded and I am sure the relevant committees will look at that.
“Key areas for the committees on Finance and Petroleum is the budget estimate. It is very key that we get this right because if we don’t get it right, the likelihood of us achieving what we have planned will not work.
“The committees should scrutinise these estimates and ensure that they are estimates that we can all put our names to.
“The Zero budgeting of which the budget is premised on means some of the projects would be critically assessed to ensure that the projects were justified,”he said.
After the Plenary, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje revealed to news men that the Senate would adjourn on Thursday to allow for budget defence.
According to him, the senate will break into sub committees from February 2nd, to receive Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) for the defence.
Goje expressed optimism that all MDAs and sub-committees will conclude their budget consideration before end of February.
