Yar'Adua Signs 2008 Appropriation Bill Today


Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua is expected to sign the 2008 Appropriation Bill into law today, after weeks of bickering since it was first passed by the National Assembly in February.

Yar'Adua had twice refused to sign it, a position that made lawmakers to threaten to override him and pass the Bill into law by a two-thirds majority.

If that had happened, he would have declined to implement the budget, and possibly seek the interpretation of the Supreme Court of Sections of the Constitution, amid impeachment plot by the legislators.

“Amendment”

Yar'Adua and the lawmakers met last week Tuesday to harmonise their positions, and agreed that the Bill should first be signed into law before it is amended to provide for a Presidential Intervention Fund of N28.83 billion he requested.

The fund would be for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to upgrade infrastructure in the Southern part of the country.

The lawmakers may also delete the aspect requiring the Minister of Finance to obtain legislative approval to reduce any vote, even in the face of revenue shortfall.

Another area the amendment may address would be reduction in defence allocation from N26.164 billion to N22.198 billion, and the total removal of the N18 billion earmarked for the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

However, at the end of the meeting last week, there was no guarantee that all the requests made by Yar'Adua would be granted by the National Assembly.

“Doubts”

There is also doubt whether the capital vote could still be deployed 100 per cent after the late assent to the Bill.

In any case, Yar'Adua has harped on a stable legislature to sustain democracy, which would, in turn, help to achieve socio-economic development.

He made the point at a dinner marking the 60th birthday of Senate President, David Mark, in Abuja, where he expressed delight that the man "has brought his wealth of experience and leadership qualities to stabilise the legislature."

NP/MICHAEL