Senate moves to scrap NTA, VON, others

Nigeria Senate has expressed concerns over bogus annual budget
without commensurate implementation as the debate for 2018
appropriation bill begins on Tuesday.

The N8,612,236,953,214 (Eight trillion, Six Hundred and Twelve
Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-six million, Nine Hundred and Fifty
Four Thousand,Two Hundred and Fourteen Naira budget drew the ire of
the upper chambers, who said that there was poor implementation of
2017 appropriation.

The two critical issues that dominated Tuesday’s debate, Our
reporter observed were implementation and cost analysis of the 2017
appropriation considered as the worst by the Senate in Nigeria’s
history.

As Senators took turns to contribute, Ben Murray Bruce stressed
the need to cut costs. He emphatically said, some government
agencies have outgrown their usefulness.

He was emphatic that the Voice of Nigeria (VON), National
Orientation Agency (NOA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
(FRCN), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) be sold to the staff of
those agencies so that they could be properly managed.

“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, let us look at agencies
that makes no sense, FRCN, sell it. The staff of FRCN has 8,000
workers. Sell it. Sell NTA to the staff. Who listens to Voice of
Nigeria again?”

“The staff should form cooperative society and buy them like
Chief Obafemi Awolowo did in those days.”

While budget implementation analysis was divided along party
lines, there was unanimity that some irrelevant agencies should be
scrapped.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa said that implementation of 2017
appropriation was 37%, adding that government was set to overcome
those hiccups that were responsible for the abysmal
performance.

He commended the government for capturing South East in railway
proposals in the current budget.

In his ruling, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu
emphasised that those government media institutions and other
agencies not relevant may be scrapped.

Budget debate continues on Wednesday.

Nigeria Senate has expressed concerns over bogus annual budget
without commensurate implementation as the debate for 2018
appropriation bill begins on Tuesday.

The N8,612,236,953,214 (Eight trillion, Six Hundred and Twelve
Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-six million, Nine Hundred and Fifty
Four Thousand,Two Hundred and Fourteen Naira budget drew the ire of
the upper chambers, who said that there was poor implementation of
2017 appropriation.

The two critical issues that dominated Tuesday’s debate, Our
reporter observed were implementation and cost analysis of the 2017
appropriation considered as the worst by the Senate in Nigeria’s
history.

As Senators took turns to contribute, Ben Murray Bruce stressed
the need to cut costs. He emphatically said, some government
agencies have outgrown their usefulness.

He was emphatic that the Voice of Nigeria (VON), National
Orientation Agency (NOA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
(FRCN), Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) be sold to the staff of
those agencies so that they could be properly managed.

“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, let us look at agencies
that makes no sense, FRCN, sell it. The staff of FRCN has 8,000
workers. Sell it. Sell NTA to the staff. Who listens to Voice of
Nigeria again?”

“The staff should form cooperative society and buy them like
Chief Obafemi Awolowo did in those days.”

While budget implementation analysis was divided along party
lines, there was unanimity that some irrelevant agencies should be
scrapped.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa said that implementation of 2017
appropriation was 37%, adding that government was set to overcome
those hiccups that were responsible for the abysmal
performance.

He commended the government for capturing South East in railway
proposals in the current budget.

In his ruling, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu
emphasised that those government media institutions and other
agencies not relevant may be scrapped.

Budget debate continues on Wednesday.