The House of Representatives has barred the chairmen of its standing committees from travelling abroad until the 2008 budget is passed.
The decision was taken to meet the December 20 deadline set to approve the budget.
It also hinted that the $53.83 benchmark used to plan the budget would be reviewed and that the allocation to Niger Delta, and road repairs would be increased in line with current realities.
The House Committee Chairmen on Media, Appropriation and Rules and Business, Messrs Ezeuchi Ubani, Festus Adegoke and Ita Enang said this on Sunday while briefing newsmen on the House action plan on the budget.
Adegoke said that the leadership of the House imposed the ban on foreign trips to ensure that the committees, which act as sub-committees to the Appropriation Committee during budget consideration, concentrated on their oversight functions on ministeries and agencies.
Most of the agencies have since last Tuesday been visiting the committees for their inauguration and interactive session before presenting their budgets.
Adegoke said, �We had an executive session last Thursday to remind ourselves of the need to sit tight and work for the benefit of the country. We have the budget before us and other pressing duties, which we must also consider.
�As a result of the urgency for all hands to be on deck, the leadership of the House directed that no committee chairman should embark on any foreign trip until the budget is passed.
�This budget must be passed before we go on break and there are serious other duties before us which includes constitutional amendment and other important bills before the House. So, we have all decided to sit tight and work.
�Also, during the session, three key areas featured very prominently. There are issues of the benchmark, NDDC, and the state of the roads. Members felt so strongly about these issues.
�Already, we are in negotiations now to see how we can arrive at a realistic benchmark. The other two issues, amongst so many others, will be addressed during our committee meetings.�
Meanwhile, the House will on Monday (today) meet with civil society groups to have their inputs on the 2008 Appropriation Bill.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Ezeuchi Ubani, stated this on Sunday during a briefing with journalists on the steps taken by the lower chamber to engage all sectors of the economy in its consideration of the budget.
He said the lower house was quite obvious of the notable contributions of civil society groups in bringing about fundamental changes to any society, hence the need to have their say in the budgeting process in the country.
Nov262007