Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Joseph Albasu Kunini, has strongly warned that any ministry, department or agency that fails to defend its 2022 budget estimates before it will face severe sanction.
The Speaker who sounded the warning while declaring open the 2022 budget estimates defence on the floor of the House, urged the MDAs to take the issue of budget defense seriously.
He affirmed that budget defence by the MDAs should not be seen as an annual ritual but a constitutional obligation.
“As a financial expert, I want to state that presentation of appropriation bill by the executive and its consideration and passage by the Legislature is not a mere annual ritual; rather it is a constitutional requirement and commitment of every government, be it federal, state or local, to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
“Budget should not be seen as just a set of figures, but it embodies the hopes and goals of every government for the citizens,” he said.
“But let me quickly warn that any ministry, department or agency that fails to turn up or delay in its budget defence before the relevant standing committees will definitely face severe sanction; because this Honourable House will not condone any procrastination or default in the budget defence by the MDAs.”
He said the house would not shirk from its constitutional roles, adding that it will ensure full implementation of the 2022 budget and carry out its oversight function.
