We'll tinker with Appropriation Act -Mark

AS the Senate President David Markinaugurated some Senate standing committee in Abuja, on Monday, he disclosed that the Senate would tinker with the Appropriation Act ahead of the President Goodluck Jonathan's presentation of the 2012 proposed estimates in November to the National Assembly.The committee already inaugurated are Committee on Business and Rules, Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Committee on Air Force; Committee on Appropriation; Committee on Banking and Finance and other financial Institutions and Senate Committee on Aviation. Others would be inaugurated today.Mark specifically stated that the National Assembly was constitutionally empowered to tinker with the budget.Speaking at the inauguration of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Mark explained that the budget submitted by the president to the National Assembly is just a mere proposal which must be subjected to input from the lawmakers.According to him 'submitted budget is mere proposal, we have every right to thinker with it. We will approve the budget if we are satisfied with it, it is necessary for people to know that the budget must be worked on by the National Assembly before it will be approved as we always seek advice from budget office before we take any decision.'Mark expressed dissatisfaction with poor implementation of Nation's budget which he said had affected the development of the country noting that late submission of budget proposal which Mark said is not good for development of the country.During the inauguration of the Aviation Committee Mark said,' our aviation industry needed to be overhaul so that it can operate properly, am not aware of any airport building in this country that is up to standard, there is only one local airport worthy of calling airport. All facilities in others are not working effectively.'The chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmed Maccido, said the committee would embark on extensive pre-budget consultation in order to set the stage for official presentation of the 2012 budget.He added that the committee would be committed to a peaceful and resourceful and intellectual legislative executive interface in the budgeting and oversight process.
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