Presidency, National Assembly clash over Lagos-Ibadan expressway reconstruction

- The presidency's request to the legislature to release N135.6bn in order to fund the Lagos-Ibadan expressway reconstruction is still unapproved

- Clash between National Assembly and presidency delays Lagos-Ibadan expressway reconstruction

- The legislature says a shift in interest and attention to the 2018 budget makes the reconstruction irrelevant

After five months that the executive made a request to the national assembly to move N135.6bn to more important projects contained in the 2017 budget, the request has remained unapproved.

According to Punch, both chambers of the assembly complained that the funds transfer and the road reconstruction have been taken over by other commitments.

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The request was actually submitted to the national assembly in July 2017 by the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, while the president was away in London for medical check up. The bid contained allocation of some funds in the 2017 budget.

The senate, however, did not treat the request until Monday, November 6, 2017, when it was referred to the committee on appropriations which is yet to submit its report to the chamber.

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Due to the disagreement that ensued between the executive and the legislature over the 2017 appropriation bill of N7.441trn, Julius Berger and RCC contractors reconstructing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway suspended the all-important road repair.

The executive had, in July, submitted the virement request as part of its efforts to fund dilapidated highway, the new Niger Bridge and take care of other critical projects.

Senator Ogbuoji, in a conversation with Punch said: “You’re right to say it was referred to the appropriations committee but, you know, the process of appropriation is that when you refer something to the committee on appropriations, the committee will send it to the various committees who have the responsibility (over the MDAs).

“We have yet to get feedback from the committees who have the responsibility. That is why we have not presented the report.”

Asked what the fate of the request was when the National Assembly has started working on the 2018 Appropriation Bill, Ogbuoji replied: “You will know as we progress. That report must be laid before the Senate.”

“How can somebody even be talking of virement now when we have treated MTEF/FSP (Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper) and the processing of the 2018 budget is on?”

When asked if the 2018 budgetary process had any implications on the approval of the virement request, senator Ohuabunwa, a member of the committee on appropriation stated: “It has been overtaken by events. By bringing a new budget and as we are processing it, every other thing is nullified.”

A breakdown of the funding demonstrated that in the ministry of transportation, N66bn would be moved into projects, while N46bn was recorded for the ministry of power, works and housing.

The house of representatives said that due to a shift in attention to the 2018 budget N135.6bn the virement was no longer relevant.

Toby Okechukwu, the chairman, house committee on works informed Punch: “How can we be talking of 2017 virement again now that we are on 2018 budget? The issue now is 2018 budget.”

Okechukwu also mentioned that the national assembly's aim was to provide sufficient fund for the reconstruction.

But he stated that the possibility of funding the projects is tied to the report of the investigating body assigned to understudying the projects.

According to Okechukwu: “There is a House resolution to investigate the exact funding status of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the 2nd Niger Bridge.

“We have to fully establish whether the projects are being funded through Public Private Partnership or they will be through total budgetary allocations by the government.

“Whichever is the outcome of the investigation will determine what further actions the House will take.

“But definitely, there will be adequate funding of the projects in 2018.”

Earlier, NAIJ.com had reported that the federal ministry of works, power and housing said it has completed 366 kilometers of road since the advent of the present administration.

According to a list seen by NAIJ.com, the ministry also claimed that 430 kilometers of road have been rehabilitated.

Also, 24 bridges were said to have been constructed, while 19 have been maintained.

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Source: Naija.ng