In a motion by deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn’Nallah, he sought for consideration of the MTEF document resent by the executive, having been rejected earlier by the Senate.
“That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President and C-in-C on the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Frame work (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility’ Act, 2007,” he said.
In a wild reaction to the debate, Dino Melaye described Buhari as being dishonest to Nigerians, insisting that the projections was not realistic and conjured to deceive the upper chambers.
He urged the Senate to throw away the document for the second time.
“This MTEF is a lie, its not truthful, it not transparent and nobody should sit down here to be deceived by Buhari,” Dino said.
” Senate President, I am ready to say the truth and die by the truth rather than toe the line of lies as far as this document from the executive is concerned, ” he added.
Dino took a swipe on the Minister of Budget and National Planning for not knowing about huge debts the nation is dragged into by the present administration.
He called for an explanation on the level of implementation of 2016-2017 MTEF, which he believes was not implemented.
Those who aligned with Dino’s views are Senators Samuel Anyanwu, Usman Nafada, Emmanuel Paulker, Joshua Lidani
But Senator Sani Ahmad Yerima in a divergent view, says the document was not digested by some colleagues, saying the projection was on the current economic indices, noting that government can turn things in three weeks.
Senator Biodun Olujimi on her part said the document fell short of expectation, saying it was a product of incompetence. She wondered at how the executive came about figures that were unrealistic.
“It’s good at this time that we should tinker with document because the way it is, it is voodoo oriented meant to produce voodoo outcomes,” Olujimi said.
Senator Solomon Olamilekun (Lagos West), emphasized that President Buhari’s economic team is in disarray, saying they don’t have grasp of economic reality.
Concerns of Senators was the production of crude oil capacity which was increased from 2.2million barrels per day to 2.3million in the current MTEF which they insisted was unrealistic due to militant activities in the Niger Delta.
After exhaustive deliberations, Senate President referred the documents to the Committee on Finance and Appropriations to be reverted in two weeks.
Daily Post
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