The Bauchi state house of assembly has on Tuesday said it will ensure timely scrutiny of the proposed N167,215,807,500 of the state.
Speaker of the state assembly, Rt. Honourable Abubakar Suleiman while responding to the budget estimate presented on Tuesday by Governor Bala Mohammed, described it as the first of its kind.
The Speaker who promised timely scrutiny of the proposal said he is optimistic that the 2020 budget proposal brought before the assembly will serve as the catalyst for the socio-economic development of Bauchi State.
“let me reassure His Excellency that we received this budget today with all sense of responsibility and we are determined to discharge our constitutional obligations by scrutinizing the budget dispassionately and at the same time ensure its speedy passage”, the Speaker said.
Suleiman stated that it is gratifying to note that, the Legislature and the Executive in Bauchi State have so far demonstrated an untiring commitment to the delivery of public good through peaceful coexistence and harmonious working relationship.
He commended the Governor for the unprecedented initiative of organizing public hearing across the three Senatorial Zones in the State on the 2020 Budget.
The Speaker hoped that the tune and tempo of the initiative will not only be sustained but will also be cascaded beyond the zones to each and every Local Government in the State.
Speaker Suleiman urged the Governor to direct MDAs in the State to provide the needed information in defence of their budgets, before the relevant House Committees in order to ensure the smooth passage of the fiscal estimates.
“Let me state clearly that our constitutional mandate of budget review and oversight should not and must not be misconstrued as an affront against the workings and operation of the Executive.”
According to him, whatever the lawmakers will do on the budget proposal should be seen as discharging their constitutional responsibility of ensuring budget implementation as well as necessary ingredient for the provision of good governance in the State.
He assured Governor Bala of the determination of the state assembly to partner with his administration in ensuring that Bauchi State is taken to an enviable pedestal within and outside Nigeria.
Governor Bala had earlier told the house of his administration’s resolve to run a transparent, open, all-inclusive and accountable government.
Governor Bala while thanking the state assembly for the maintaining cordial relationship with the executive said that the present administration including the house members took over when Bauchi was already a failed state with virtually nothing working.
