Lawmakers pass bill to establish National Assembly budget office

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed a bill to establish a budget and a research office for the National Assembly.

The bill is titled: An act establishing an independent National Assembly budget and research office, which shall provide the National Assembly with objective, timely and nonpartisan analysis needed for economic and budget decisions and other related matters.

The bill was initiated by the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Establishment and Public Office and was presented by Ita Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North East.

The bill was processed by both chambers of the sixth National Assembly sent to the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, for assent.

Unfortunately, it was sent back the National Assembly unsigned. It was once more reviewed by both houses and referred to the Committee on Appropriation to deliberate on the bill.

The senate president, David Mark said “we have been trying to pass this for a while and I am glad the Senate and House of Representatives passed this without disagreement.”

The senate also passed for second hearing, a bill for an act to provide for the establishment of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies.

The bill seeks to provide an enabling law and legal framework for the operation of the institute.

The bill was sponsored by Kabir Marafa representing Zamfara central senatorial district. It was read for the first time on September 24, 2014.

The bill was referred to the committees on defence and judiciary to report in a week.

In another vein, theSenate endorsed the sack of 17 employees of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The 17 employees were accused of paying N250,000 to gain employment.

The case was referred to the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions which recommended that the 17 employees be pardoned and called back to work.

But Senators at plenary Thursday rejected the committee’s recommendation, and collectively voted that the employees and everyone else involved be punished.