President Goodluck Jonathan
Government , however, said it would ensure a substantial implementation of about 80 to 90 per cent at the end of the fiscal year.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said this yesterday while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the deliberations at the Federal Executive Council’s, FEC, meeting.
The minister explained that 56 per cent of the budget had been implemented as at July 20 while N404bn had already been released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
Okonjo-Iweala said: “In terms of 100 per cent implementation, I think that what I read that was said by sections of the National Assembly had to do with 100 per cent implementation of the budget by September.
“My experience worldwide is that there is hardly any country that will implement 100 per cent by the end of the year and this is based on very broad experience, but people try to get to 80 to 90 per cent of the budget and as much as can be done.
“Now 100 per cent by September, you know September is the ninth month of the year, but we will be moving. I think the point is that Mr. President is determined to implement this budget as fully as possible and therefore, we will be moving towards the figure as of full implementation as we can by the end of the year because the budget was made for the whole year.
“You can see there is no lack of effort and no lack of goodwill, if we could go from 39 per cent in May to 56 per cent by mid-July, that shows a considerable leap and I am quite confident that as we go month by month, both us and the National Assembly will be able to look at this and say a good effort has been made for the country.” President Goodluck Jonathan had on April 13 signed a N4.697trn 2012 budget into law after it was passed by the National Assembly on March 15.
The appropriation consists of capital expenditure of N1.34trn and recurrent expenditure amounting to N3.357trn.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that the Federal Government and members of the National Assembly would ensure that the budget was implemented to the benefit of all Nigerians.
While speaking about the challenges encountered in the implementation process, Okonjo-Iweala explained that some constituency projects initiated by members of the National Assembly needed to be accompanied by the designs and the feasibility studies, which would take some time to complete.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, also said that President Jonathan was committed to the implementation of the budget to the benefit of Nigerians.
He said that the implementation of the budget did not start early in the year because the National Assembly did not pass it until March.
Maku added that the President had, therefore, directed that all MDAs ensure that they prepare and submit their proposals for the 2013 budget by September to give the National Assembly ample opportunity to consider and pass the budget before the end of the year.
He said the early passage of the budget by the National Assembly would make it easier for the executive to start early implementation.
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Mr. Emeka Eze, noted that while implementing the budget, the BPP was also ensuring that due process was followed.
He said that government was committed to ensuring that all projects due for execution were backed by the appropriate designs, completed feasibility studies, the entire cost of the project and the contractor who would handle the projects.
He dismissed the insinuation that the BPP was the body empowered to award contracts and not the FEC.
Eze explained that Section 2 of the Public Procurement Act did not give the power to award contracts.
Meanwhile, indications emerged yesterday that President Jonathan would appear in a closed session with members of the House of Representatives over the increasing insecurity in the country in September.
The House, had through a resolution in June, invited the President to appear before it in an executive session.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by the Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, (ACN, Lagos). It was learnt yesterday that the decision of the President to meet the lawmakers as requested was the outcome of his meetings with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Senate President David Mark.
It was gathered that since the impeachment threat last week, President Jonathan and Tambuwal had met twice to settle issues between the House and the Presidency.
The first meeting was held last week, after the House had passed a resolution warning the President to hasten up implementation of the 2012 budget or face impeachment proceedings by September.
A principal officer, who told National Mirror, said the two leaders met again on Monday night where it was also gathered that the President decided that in the spirit of reconciliation, he would appear before the House as soon as it reconvenes from recess in September.
The source said: “I can tell you there is every possibility that the President would honour our invitation when we come back.
“His second meeting with the Speaker was very successful and he had conceded that he had nothing against the invitation.
“And mind you, he is not coming this time around to discuss only security; we will be discussing the budget and the state of the nation generally.”
He added that the President would be coming in company of his service chiefs and the economic team to meet with the House in an executive session.
“Part of what they discussed at last night’s meeting was the need to close ranks between the Presidency and the House. Besides, some top government officials, friends and associates of the President have, on their own, launched separate initiatives to stem the issue,” the source said.
Further investigation also revealed that from the interaction that took place at the meeting between the Speaker and the President, it was clear that the President was really interested in ensuring that the “communication gap between the executive and the House was addressed in a short while. He said the meetings were initiated by Jonathan.
“All the meetings were at the instance of Mr. President. Some ministers are going about telling people the impeachment threat is not a big deal but I can confirm to you that President Jonathan is visibly concerned about the not so cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, had, in a recent statement, declared that the House cannot be stampeded into abandoning its decision to impeach President Jonathan should he fail to implement the 2012 budget as passed by the National Assembly.
He explained that the impeachment threat was borne out of the national interest and patriotism of members of the House saying statements suggesting that the lawmakers were sponsored by external forces were mischievous and misleading.
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