A bill to give legal backing to National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) on Thursday passed second reading in the Senate. Senator Abdul Ningi who stood in for Senate Leader presented the bill to the Senate for consideration.
All Senators in their contribution agree that the bill is one of the most important tools the National Assembly needs to function effectively.
In his contribution Senator Ahmed Lawal said the National Assembly in the past 16 years relies on information that is provided by the Ministry of Finance on Appropriation Bill.
“Appropriation Bill is one of the most important bill that need to be pass by the National Assembly but members of National Assembly only relied on the information that is provided the Ministry of Finance”, Lawal said
He said National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) is an opportunity to have a body that will inform the legislators about the budget outside the executives.
Senator Victor Lar said the bill will deepen the country’s democracy and commended the Senate for passing one of the most important tools the National Assembly needs to function effectively.
Senator Ayogu Eze added that NABRO will make sure that the legislators have independent information of the budget outside those provided by the executive. Senator Smart Adeyemi in his contribution said the bill will make the country budgetary system more democratic.
The bill was unanimously passed by the Senators when it was put to voting by the Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu. It was referred to the Senate committee on appropriation and establishment.
Ekweremadu said the bill is very important for the National Assembly and the entire country. He thanks the Senators for their contribution and commitment and urges the committees to visit the office of NABRO to ascertain why they are not functioning properly
