By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

Budget and National  Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, yesterday, made a strong case for members of the National Assembly to work in synergy with the Executive  to solve the economic challenges facing the country.

UDOMA UDO UDOMA

The minister, who made the call in a keynote address presented at The Gallery Colloquium, organized by OrderPaper.ng in Abuja, yesterday, said irrespective of differing opinions by Nigerians on who had more powers over the budget, it was imperative for the two tiers of government to work together to steer the country out of recession.

Udoma spoke on the theme: Budget as a critical tool for Effective Executive-Legislative Relations, said: “In my experience, what is required is not a debate as to who has what power but to develop a practice and convention that works for us here in Nigeria. What is, in my view, best for us, is for all parties, the Executive and the National Assembly, to seek to work together in the national interest to ensure that Nigerians get the best possible budget.

“This is particularly important at this time when we need a 2017 Budget that provides the needed impetus to take the economy out of recession, and onto a path of sustainable growth.

“Success in producing a good 2017 Budget will require strong collaboration between the Executive and the National Assembly. In order to achieve this, there must be mutual understanding and ownership of national objectives and priorities.

“For instance, we should all agree that at this time of recession we need to ensure prudent allocation of resources to key capital projects that will help to lift the economy out of recession and onto the path of sustainable growth.

“All the key stakeholders must understand and appreciate the overall budgetary constraints as well as implications of some fiscal trade-offs. The Executive and the Legislature have different roles in the budget production process but these roles must be seen as complementary. The National Assembly must not see itself as in competition with the Executive.”