#NASS Denies Removing Projects from 2016 Budget

The National Assembly has denied the allegations flying round that it removed some vital projects from the 2016 budget passed and sent to the presidency.

Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin, Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Appropriation, who reacted to allegations making the rounds stated that some of the projects allegedly removed were never in the budget proposal.

The National Assembly was accused of removing budgetary allocations for Lagos-Calabar railway line and diverting certain sums designated for drug purchases to unplanned projects.

In reaction, Jibrin said, “Lagos-Calabar railway line was never in the budget that was sent by the Executive. How then could it have been removed by NASS?”

The Appropriation committee chairman said the National Assembly has always been on the receiving end of bad press, and the trend has continued with conversations around the 2016 budget.

Jibrin said that the budget of the Transportation ministry was overshot by N54billion which was channeled by the National Assembly to areas where the funds could be used.

“We added N39.7bn to the Lagos-Kano rail project. This will help complete the project once and for all. We also allocated N10bn of this sum to the airports’ navigation and security apparatus,” Jibrin said.

Lagos-Calabar Railway line was NEVER captured in the budget that was sent by the Executive. How then could it have been removed by NASS?

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ) April 10, 2016

I actually find it shocking that even some National Dailies made the removal their headlines. A little research would would have helped.

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ) April 10, 2016

All they, and those spreading the false information needed to have done is check the initial document sent by the Executive.

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ) April 10, 2016

The NASS has always been on the receiving end of bad press. This is being capitalised on in the conversations on #Budget2016

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ) April 10, 2016

This is unfortunate as it is quite clear to all and sundry that #Budget2016 and all its headaches and controversies didn't emanate from NASS

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ) April 10, 2016

Take the budget of the ministry of Transportation was overshot by N54b. That is, by the time you add up the items on the ministry's budget..

— Abdulmumin Jibrin (@AbdulAbmJ) April 10, 2016

FACT CHECK: There is no provision for the Lagos-Calabar rail in the #2016Budget submitted by the @NGRPresident

— BudgIT Nigeria (@BudgITng) April 10, 2016