#2013Budget: Are Okonjo-Iweala and the National Assembly on yet another collision course?
The protracted disagreement between the National Assembly and the Presidency over the 2013 budget does not seem to be going anytime soon. In spite of the budget’s recent passage, the non-implementation of constituency projects may lead to new friction when members of both houses of the federal legislature resume from their vacation next month.
According to a report in the Vanguard, constituency projects contained in the 2013 budget may not be implemented this year because the executing ministries, departments and agencies of government had been directed not to do so.
The report also says that permanent secretaries and directors of various MDAs were directed not to execute constituency projects as that responsibility had been handed over to the Ministry of Special Duties.
In spite of this directive, which is said to come from the Federal Executive Council, no funds have been allocated to the Ministry of Special Duties.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is reported to have said that payments for the projects would only be made after the contractors handling them have finished their work.
A senior officer at the Special Duties Ministry in confidence, and frustration, said: “This was an assignment that was given to our Minister, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, by President Jonathan.
“But from the look of things, carrying out the assignment has been stalled due to the posture of Okonjo-Iweala.”
So is Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala courting another showdown with the National Assembly?
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[Photo H/T: YNaija]
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