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2009 BUDGET: FG HAS FAILED THE PEOPLE – SENATE
The Senate yesterday said that almost three years into the Yar’adua administration the Federal Government has failed to meet the expectations of the people. Speaking during budget defence of the Ministry of Information, Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said government has failed to improve the economy as budgets continue to underperform. Eze said the 2010 budget is the last full fiscal year of the present administration as 2011 is scheduled as election year. He said budget performance should be hundred percent not to hover between 20 and 40 percent.
The committee on information has also summoned Finance Minister Mansur Muhtar, Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Emeka Eze and the Director General of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Usman Magawata to explain the controversies surrounding the N3.8 billion contract awarded for facility upgrade at the NTA. The contract for upgrading of NTA equipments to the High Definition television system has been enmeshed in controversy including allegation of corruption against some top government officials by the contractor.
He said Senate will no longer tolerate poor implementation of budgets as the term of the present administration is long spent. The committee also threatened to sanction Minister of State for Information and Communication Alhaji Aliyu Ikra Bilbis for failing to appear before it as requested
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