Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has expressed its support  to the decision of the House of Representatives not to accept the 2013 Appropriation bill from President Goodluck Jonathan until it is satisfied with the implementation of the 2012 budget
The House had voted to put on hold action on the 2013 appropriation Bill and to suspend plenary session for one week to enable its committees chance to inspect the state of progress on all capital projects being implemented under the 2012 budget.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emma Eneukwu, the party said based on past experiences where the executive arm has always failed to implement budgets as passed, it would be worthwhile to scrutinize existing budget records before jumping into a new one.

"We believe this is a step in the right direction and a veritable implement to check the excesses of the Executive Arm of Government, he said.
Eneukwu said Nigerians are witnesses to the gross misconduct exhibited by the Executive in its near-total failure to comply with the budget which year in and year out takes a toll on the standard of living of the ordinary citizen.

"It is disheartening that monies that have been apportioned in the Appropriation Bill to alleviate the suffering of the masses are returned at the end of the year with the excuse that budget implementation has failed; we all know that these funds never find their way back to the people’s projects but are systematically siphoned through a failed system largely engendered by lax checks and balances.

"Our great party therefore wishes to express its determination to always stand by the National Assembly in matters that touch on the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, people who for no fault of theirs have been denied the milk and honey flowing in this nation through sheer executive misconduct.