Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has assured Nigerians that the National Assembly will pass the 2016 Appropriation Bill before the end of March, contrary to the declaration of the appropriation committee that the passage of the bill had been postponed indefinitely.

Ndume, while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, noted that the passage of the budget was not suspended indefinitely, assuring that it would definitely be passed before the end of March, which is the deadline for the implementation of the 2015 budget. He added that the Senate would ensure strict compliance with the passage of the budget.

His words: “Actually, the National Assembly wished to pass the budget on February 25 but it was not possible, due to some errors discovered by the federal parliamentarians at their different committees. But I assure that all errors and differences would be corrected soon before passage.

Shedding more light on why the Senate gave the previous date to pass the budget.

“We fixed 25th because we wanted to have a gap of five weeks, so we can know if there are issues here or there that still needs to be fixed before the expiration of the 2015 budget implementation by March 31.

“We have a time frame and determination to get the budget out as soon as possible and by the grace of God, we will pass it before end of March.”

The Senate Leader further explained that the leadership of the National Assembly had met with ministers to iron out the grey areas and make corrections to the contentious areas as well.

“This,” he said, “is the first time that the budget process is truthful, frank and honest and interactive. Yesterday, we had a long meeting with the ministers looking at the realities and challenges. Everything that affects the budget that needs to be looked into, amended corrected is being considered.

“So we are working collectively together and honestly we are very optimistic that this time around the change will be visible.”

•Photo shows Senate Leader, Ali Ndume.

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