Why NASS Budget Details Haven’t Been Made Public – Saraki

Bukola-SarakiThe Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday blamed the delay in the release of details of the 2016 budget of the National Assembly on the management’s decision to comply with bureaucratic procedures.

Saraki had on several occasions, since the 2016 budget was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in May, promised that as part of his “Open NASS” agenda, details of the budget would be made public.

It would be recalled that the details were in public domain until 2010 when former Senate President David Mark made it a single line item.

Reacting to a report that he reneged on his promise, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said Saraki gave a directive to the National Assembly management to release the budget details in June this year.

“What has caused the delay is the decision of the management to comply with and follow the bureaucratic procedure. And you know that since the budget details have not been released in over five years, the management will want to be careful to ensure the process and procedures are followed”, he said.

Mr. Olaniyonu, however, noted that part of the details of the budget was released in February this year to an online news platform.