The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 35 other Federal agencies have been given seven days to submit their 2017 budget proposals to the National Assembly for appropriation.

The directive was issued to the agencies by the Senate on Wednesday. This decision comes after a motion raised by Senator Ahmed Lawan, claiming that most government agencies were breaching the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 by carrying out extra-budgetary spending without the approval of the Senate.

Due to this, the lawmakers reached an agreement to have the budgets passed before their annual recess, later this month.

“The budget submission by these agencies must be done within a week,” said Bukola Saraki (photo), President of the Senate.

The legislators, however, urged the institutions to obey the laws and submit their budgets as required.

Other affected agencies include, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerians Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerians Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

This is not the first time the Senate is issuing such ultimatum to government agencies. It should be recalled that in May, Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, was given a two-week ultimatum to direct all agencies who have failed to submit their budget proposals to do so. Agencies that fail to comply will be sanctioned by the law.

Anita Fatunji