Nigeria to pass 2018 budget next month, Lawmaker says

This is the second time within a week that the speaker would make the promise, even as the House passed into law 18 bills, including Corporate Manslaughter, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, and Ajaokuta Steel Company completion.

To meet the April target passage of the budget, Dogara read the riot act from Appropriation Committee to all chairmen of all standing committees to observe the deadline for submission of the budget.

He also warned that the Appropriation Committee would override any committee that failed to meet its deadline and present whatever was available to the Appropriation Committee as the budget of those Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

He reaffirmed the earlier position of the House to pass the 2018 budget immediately it reconvened after the Easter break. Some of the bills passed

Some of the bills passed into law include:

“A Bill For an Act to Establish Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos to Provide Courses of Instruction, Training and Research in Exploration and Exploitation of Minerals for National Development and for Related Matters, 2018 (HB. 770).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish Chartered Institute of Training and Development of Nigeria, a body charged with responsibility to regulate the practice and profession of training and development; and for related matters, 2018 (HB. 401).

“A Bill for an Act to Amend the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, Cap. R7, LFN, 2004 to make provision for sanctions to punish erring revenue generating agencies, to enhance the revenue profile and Remittance into the Federation Account, to facilitate National Development and for Related Matters, 2018 (HB. 542).

“A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund for the speedy Completion of the Project; and for Related Matters (HB. 1371).

“A Bill for an Act to Amend the Public Enterprises (Privatization and Commercialization) Act, Cap. P38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review the List of Enterprises to be Privatised; and for Related Matters (HB. 1372).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit as the Central Body in Nigeria Responsible for Receiving, Requesting, Analysing and Disseminating Financial Intelligence Reports and other Information to Law Enforcement, Security and Intelligence Agencies and other Relevant Authorities; and for Related Matters (HB. 1082).”

“A Bill for an Act to Establish National Institute of Credit Administration and for Related Matters (HB. 425). “A Bill for an Act to Regulate the Franchised Business in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 78).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish Forest Research Institute of Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 41).

“A Bill for An Act to Establish National Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science to Conduct Professional Postgraduate Examination of Candidates into various specialised branches of Medical Laboratory Science; and for Related Matters (HB. 405).

“A Bill For an Act to Establish Nigerian Academy of Science to Promote the Growth, Acquisition and Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge and to facilitate the use of Science in the solution to problems of National Interest; and for Related Matters (HB.917.

“A Bill for an Act to Provide for Corporate Manslaughter by making Corporate Organisations Criminally Liable for Death of Employees arising from their acts or Omissions; and for Related Matters (HB.273).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish National Assembly Budget and Research Office which provides the National Assembly with Objective, Timely and Non-partisan Analysis needed for Economic and Budget Decisions; and for Related Matters (HB.377).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish National Child Protection and Enforcement Agency to provide necessary Protection and Care for the Nigerian Children; and for Related Matters (HB.127).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission charged with the Responsibility for Appointment, Promotion and Discipline of Staff and Employees in the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; and for Related Matters (HB.167).

“A Bill for an Act to Establish Animal Health Husbandry Technologists Registration Board of Nigeria to Regulate the Practice of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.320).

“A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Consumer Protection Act, Cap. C25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Establish Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the Development and Promotion of Fair, Efficient and Competitive Markets in the Nigerian Economy, Facilitate Access by all Citizens to Safe Products, Secure the Protection of Rights for all Consumers in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HBs1 and 60).

“A Bill for an Act to Amend the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act, Cap.I,7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB1369).”