President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday delegated the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to present the 2014 Budget before a joint session of the National Assembly.
Jonathan made this known in a letter to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, noting that he had nominated the Coordinating Minister for the Economy to do the presentation on his behalf.
However, the president’s letter did not state the date Okonjo-Iweala was expected to present the 2014 budget before the National Assembly.
Jonathan said: “I have delegated the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, to lay before the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the 2014 budget estimates.’’
The Conference Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday agreed on a 77.5 dollars oil benchmark after series of deadlocks.
Prior to the agreement on a common oil benchmark of 77.5 per barrel, the Senate position was 76.5 dollars while the House of Representatives stood at 79 dollars.
Jonathan had on Nov.19 postponed indefinitely, the presentation of the 2014 budget estimates pending the harmonisation of the oil benchmark by the two chambers.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the Senate was prepared to receive the budget from the president at anytime.
Abaribe said the Senate Rules empowered it to reconvene from recess to attend to matters of urgent national importance.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Wednesday deferred debates on the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (2010) Amendment Bill.
This followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, that the debates be adjourned to enable the service chiefs to brief the Senate on security situation in the country.
The Senate unanimously approved the motion and adjourned debates on the AMCON bill to another legislative day.
The Senate President, David Mark, said: “We will suspend the debates and continue on another legislative day to allow many senators to comment on the bill.’’
The Senate subsequently, went into a closed session with the service chiefs and heads of other security organisations to discuss issues of national security.
