By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
The House of Representatives has threatened to boycott the presentation of the 2019 budget next week Wednesday.
The threat followed a letter of notification by President Muhammadu Buhari read by Speaker Yakubu Dogara at Thursday’s plenary that he be allowed by the National Assembly to present the 2019 budget.
Dogara after reading the letter on the floor noted that the letter was brought in the morning shortly before the commencement of the day’s plenary.
A point of order by a member of the House, Mr. Adamu Chika (APC, Niger) had sparked up a mixed reactions.
Mr. Chika noted that for the president’s letter to have appeared today members right of privilege has been breached by the minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udoma Udoma going by his comment in a media report of yesterday that the Executive are still waiting for the legislature to provide a date for the 2019 budget presentation.
According to the lawmaker, “This is portraying the legislature in a bad light in the eyes of the public that they’re responsible for the delay of the 2019 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Speaking in support of Mr. Chika, Mr. Mark Gbilah (PDP, Benue) called for a boycott of the budget presentation come next week Wednesday if a rejoinder is not made by the minister.
But the House leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila shielded the minister.
According to him, “The minister called me this morning that he is shocked of reading the report on a daily. He said he will write a rejoinder that he never made the claim as reported.”
Speaker Dogara while pleading with the House to remain calm however ruled that if the rejoinder from the minister is not satisfactory, a decisive action will be taken on Tuesday.