Albert Sam-Tsokwa who gave the advice in a chat with House correspondents yesterday, said any reckless expenditure would lead to a deficit that the country had never witnessed before.
The House of Representatives explained that though the constitution had empowered the President to spend before budgets were approved, the country would be plunged into financial crisis, if the President failed to exercise restraint.
Section 82 of 1999 constitution, as amended states: “If the Appropriation Bill in respect of any financial year has not been passed into law by the beginning of the financial year, the President may authorise the withdrawal of monies in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the government of the Federation for a period not exceeding .six months or until the coming into operation of the Appropriation Act, whichever is the earlier:
The lawmaker said: “I am aware that the constitution allows Mr. President to spend an amount of money equivalent to the one that was spent in the preceding year, pending the approval of the budget.
“But the snag we have is that last year’s budget was based on crude oil price of over $100 per barrel but as we speak, the price is barely 50 dollars.
“So, if Mr. President is to spend the equivalent of what was spent in a particular period last year this year, we will run into trouble.
“So, I will advise that Mr. President thread cautiously and I call on legislators to expedite action on the budget and put it behind us before going for presidential and governorship elections”
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