The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the presentation
of the 2020 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National
Assembly on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party welcomed the commitment of both the executive and
legislative arms to ensure budget passage is returned to
January-December cycle.
It, however, made a veiled reference to the 8th National Assembly co-led by Senator Bukola Saraki and Rep Yakubu Dogara.
APC observed that the conduct of the 9th Legislature during the
presentation was a “departure from the usual tensed and adversarial
atmosphere of the previous four years.”
Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, in a statement
noted that with the early presentation by the President, the lawmakers
have close to three months to consider and pass the budget.
It read: “The proposed 2020 budget is targeted at consolidating on
the gains the current administration has made in revamping our power,
rail and road infrastructure; diversification and retooling the economy;
social intervention programmes targeted at the poor; fight against
emerging crimes, insurgency and rehabilitation, rebuilding of the North
East particularly through the newly-established North East Development
Commission, among other critical interventions.
“According to the President in his budget speech, tagged “Budget of
sustaining growth and job creation”, there is a renewed government’s
commitment to plugging revenue leakage with the continued strict
implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“We congratulate the leaders of the two chambers of the 9th National
Assembly, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for creating a convivial
environment for the budget presentation exercise,.
“The Party is confident that the patriotic disposition of the leaders
and members of the 9th National Assembly would ensure a cordial
relationship with the executive arm, which would surely translate to
good governance and proper implementation of the administration’s Next
Level plans for Nigerians.”