Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) has blamed the delay in consideration and passage of the 2019 Budget of ₦8.83 trillion on the Senate leadership.
Ndume told Newsmen in an interview on Wednesday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers were ready to commence work on the budget but the leadership was not willing.
According to him, federal lawmakers on the platform of APC are more in number than their counterparts in PDP. However, since it is the PDP lawmakers that are controlling the leadership of both chambers, the speed with which any executive bill, particularly the 2019 Appropriation Bill before us will be passed lies with them.
Ndume, however, commended the House of Representatives for kick starting debate on the general principles of the budget.
He added that the required expeditious consideration that should be given the 2019 Appropriation bill, should be extended to the expected Minimum Wage Bill.
He said Nigerian workers deserved living wage and not just minimum wage.
