The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and some civil societyorganizations (CSOs) have called for the establishment of the NationalAssembly budget office, similar to the Congressional budget office in the United States of America for the country’s budget implementationto be effective.
They made the call in a communique issued yesterday in Abuja after aone-day roundtable of the progressive governors, legislators and CSOstitled “Improving governance through transparency budgeting,accountability and effective public financial management”.
The forum said that the budgeting process must be designed based onsector plans, “not mere statements of intended expenditure or mereline budgeting to be executed at the whims of the civil service”.
Other recommendations of the parley include the need for a “provisionfor a closing figure for the previous year before any new budget ispresented.
“The National Assembly’s oversight function must be reinvigorated toensure strict compliance with budget provisions.
“Extra -budgetary expenditure which is an impeachable offence must bereined-in and punishable where applicable”, they said.
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