BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

ABUJA – MEMBERS of the House of Representatives are set to give constitutional backing to the creation of contingencies fund as provided for in the 1999 constitution (as amended).

This was sequel to the second reading of a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a contingencies fund in order to give effect to the provisions of Section 83 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

According to the sponsor of the bill, Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor,  it seeks to reinforce  Section 83 and  discourage excesses or manipulation of the constitution in the usage of the funds.

Section 83. (1)states:  The National Assembly may by law make provisions for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund for the Federation and for authorizing the President, if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances from the Fund to meet the need.

(2) Where any advance is made in accordance with the provisions of this section, a Supplementary Estimate shall be presented and a Supplementary Appropriation Bill shall be introduced as soon as possible for the purpose of replacing the amount so advanced.

He said constitutional backing for the contingencies funds becomes necessary “where expenditure that was not reflected in the Appropriation Act can be serviced from the contingencies fund”

Rep Sekonte Davies ,PDP, Rivers, in his contribution pointed out that when passed, it will discourage the spending money from the fund, especially the Supplementary budget without recourse to the National Assembly.

Dakuku Peterside who noted that the contingencies fund was established by the constitution, but the bill seeks to remove the power of discretion by the Executive arm of government so that whoever wants to use it would be backed by the constitution”.

Sunday Adeyemi (ACN, Oyo emphasized that the bill must be given all the backing it requires because the fund can easily be manipulated as it is currently.

The motion was  later referred  to  the House Committee on Finance for further legislative input.