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"content": "Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have been trying to catch your eye for quite some time and I thank you that now I have the chance. Before we can support this Motion, I would like the Leader of Government Business to make a clarification. He seeks or wants the Minister for Finance to move the Vote on Account tomorrow, so that we can access resources to deliver Government services, but Article 221 (6) of the Constitution reads as follows:- “When the estimates of the national Government expenditure, and the estimates of expenditure for the Judiciary and Parliament have been approved by the National Assembly, they shall be included in an Appropriation Bill, which shall be introduced into the National Assembly to authorize the withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of the money needed for the expenditure, and for the appropriation of that money for the purposes mentioned in the Bill”. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Article 222 (1) states as follows:- “If the Appropriation Act for a financial year has not been assented to, or is not likely to be assented to, by the beginning of the financial year, the National Assembly may authorize the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund”. Therefore, as of now, this National Assembly on 6th of this month actually debated, approved and adopted as a resolution unanimously the Budget Committee Report, which is supposed to be used to inform the Minister when bringing the Appropriation Bill for debate here. It is only when the Bill is here and after failure to be assented by the President within time that we can have access to the Consolidated Fund. I want the Leader of Government Business to inform us and try to make us understand how that resolution of this House in that Report is going to be used. If we pass or debate the Vote on Account tomorrow should the Appropriation Bill, as per the Constitution, come before or after the Vote on Account? Can we, as a House allow, agree to debate it after the horse has already bolted? That is my concern, otherwise, I have no problem with Members who are desirous of going on recess tomorrow or whatever time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we stand here to defend, protect and safeguard the Constitution and we should not allow any other individual, organization or civil society, any Government officer or State officer to break the Constitution. Without the Appropriation Bill here I am unable to reconcile my conscience with what we are doing. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must note that there are five parliamentary sitting days. Within these days, up to 30th June, 2012, we could do justice to this matter. Five more days to the end of the financial year will not make a huge difference in terms of going to the constituencies. I also note that when this matter was brought to your attention earlier, you undertook to make a ruling tomorrow. Before tomorrow comes, of course, the Minister is indicating desire for us to discuss this particular item. May I also tell you that the letter of notice to discuss or lay this Motion was brought to Parliament at 1.10 p.m. today. This is tantamount to ambushing Parliament. This is tantamount to"
}