– Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) has given a positive prognosis for the 2016 budget
– “This is actually the first time Nigeria is having that size reduced from its budget.”
The 2016 budget is expected to meet the expectations of Nigerians if properly implemented, according to Mr Collins Okeke, the senior legal programme officer of HURILAWS.
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Mr Okeke described the 2016 budget as the most ambitious, following its N17 billion reduction, while delivering his speech on “Judicial Application of 2015 Election Laws in Nigeria”at a media briefing in Lagos, on Wednesday.
“This is actually the first time Nigeria is having that size reduced from its budget. The infrastructural projects listed in the budget are also very ambitious. The problem we have been having is not passing the budget but implementing it. I am hoping that at the end of May 2017, government should be able to say that at least 60 per cent of the budget has been implemented,” he said.
However, there are still sections in the budget that need to be amended: section 285 of the 1999 Constitution and section 134 of the Electoral Act.
That will allow to add exceptions to the election petition timelines and incorporate as well as recognize the use of card reader during accreditation of voters.
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“The Electoral Act, especially Section 137, needs to be amended to afford locus standi to the electorate to bring election petitions. However, tribunals may also be empowered to consider and summarily dismiss in chambers frivolous petitions and petitions on issues already being canvassed in another petition or which should be more appropriately canvassed by a party to the election,” he added.
The HURILAWS senior legal programme officer also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure pre-testing of the card readers deployed for elections, their highest quality and user-friendliness; and professionalism of permanent and ad-hoc staff ahead of elections.
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