A bill seeking to establish the National Assembly Budget and Research Office has on Thursday passed the second reading in the Nigerian Senate.
The Bill is sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North).
Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele says the Research office is an initiative of the Nigerian legislature to support its work in its engagements with the Executive on National Budgets.
According to the proposed law, the objectives of the Office among others include – to provide the National Assembly with objective, timely and non-partisan analysis, information and estimates needed for economic and budgetary decisions.
Also, to provide independent, unbiased and non-partisan analysis of the executive arm of government’s annual budget estimates; as well as to review and monitor existing and proposed programmes and budgets of the Federal Government.
MUST READ: CBN Board of Directors: South-East nominee rejects appointment
The Research office will equally provide, analysis of the economic implication of the Federal budget on the private sector and the budgetary and financial implication of any proposed legislation when so required by any Committee of the National Assembly.
Speaking against the bill, Senator Adams Oshomole wondered how could the Executive arm of government be working to cut cost of governance, and the National Assembly is trying to establish additional institutions.
He therefore advised the National Assembly Committee on Appropriation to hire experts to help them review the budget proposals presented by the Executive arm of government.
After debate on the Bill, the Senate passed the bill for second reading.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
