APC LawMakers Ready For 2014 Budget After Mbu's Redeployment

Joseph Mbu

 Thursday's redeployment of former Rivers State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu to Abuja, members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives have said they are now ready for the 2014 budget to be considered and passed for second reading tomorrow.
The budget suffered a setback in the House last Tuesday following an observation raised by Rep Emmanuel Jime (APC, Benue) that the 2014 appropriation bill did not fulfill the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 as estimates of some agencies were not sent to the lawmakers along with the budget.



Jime's observation compelled the House to put a stop to the budget consideration that day as Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal set up a six-man committee to advise him on what to do.
But Jime's observation was seen as part of the moves by APC lawmakers to implement the directive given to them by their party's leadership to block all executive bills, including the budget until Mbu was re-deployed,
to put a stop to the "high level of impunity" in Rivers state.
A statement from minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila's aide, Wasiu Smart said: "Now we can debate the so-called budget. As I said earlier, extraordinary and desperate situation calls for desperate measures. We have been vindicated that there is more than one way to skin a cat. As a party, we have adopted a less attractive but legitimate way when all else failed and it has worked. The people of Nigeria are the beneficiaries."
Also, a source told our reporter yesterday that the report of the committee set up by Tambuwal is ready for presentation.
According to the source, the report may have also softened the ground for the full consideration of the budget.
However, another APC lawmaker told our reporter in confidence that he was not comfortable with the position taken by his colleagues, despite Mbu's redeployment.