The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Rt.Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has dismissed reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted the 2024 budget without details to the National Assembly.
Doguwa, who is also the Chairman, Northern Caucus, 10th House of Representatives, spoke in a statement on Friday titled “Stop the misrepresentation of facts: We did not receive empty 2024 budget box from President Tinubu “
Rep Yusuf Galambi, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, had told the BBC Hausa Service that President Tinubu presented his budget speech but did not give the lawmakers the documents as was the tradition by previous presidents.
But Doguwa said such reports were only being spread by mischief makers and opposition members who would always criticize the government with or without reasonable cause.
He said “I write in response to the mischievous insinuations that, Mr. President laid empty boxes to the National Assembly on the day he presented the appropriation bill 2023.
“What people don’t know is that Mr. President had earlier submitted a flash drive as a soft copy of the 2023 Budget. Which is now being printed out in hard copies. And as usual brought one single hard copy of the budget to the floor.
“Be that as it may, Senators and Hon. members were satisfied and were conveniently guided by the verbal presentation and the way Mr. President digested the budget, and gave a specific analysis of the funds allocated to the various sectors of the economy.
“I, therefore, want to say that any media or mischievous reports insinuating that Mr. President laid empty boxes were NOT TRUE and unfounded. Such reports are only being perpetrated by mischief makers and opposition members who would always criticize the government with or without reasonable cause.
“I further wish to urge Nigerians to disregard such insinuations, and condemn the perpetrators as they are enemies of Nigeria’s Progress.
“As from next week, the House Committee on Petroleum Upstream will start budget defense on estimates of agencies under my committee’s supervision.”
