The 8th Senate has on Wednesday, January 20, commenced deliberations on the 2016 budget submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

As the deliberations began, senators from the All Progressives Congress, APC camp praised the budget as a sign of the change to come while senators on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP dissented.

The PDP senators in the house described the budget as unreasonable, alluding to the plan of the government to borrow funds to implement the budget.

One of the PDP Senators, Peter Nwaboshi stated that “this budget is a fraud”.

The PDP senators urged the Federal Government to withdraw the budget as it was largely unreasonable.

Read some of the points raised in the budget debate.

Senate Leader now says that the Senate moves on to the second order of the day: the second reading of the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate Leader Ali Ndume now asks that Senator allow him to lead the debate while they take their turns.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

There is a mild commotion on the comments of the Senate Leader as the opposition wants to speak on the salient details of the budget.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

The Senate President says the debate on the #AppropriationBill should be only on the 'merits and principles of the bills'.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @jideomoworare raises a point of order on the debate on the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @jideomoworare says the debate should not be based on the intricacies of the estimates of the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

SP @bukolasaraki upholds Senator @jideomoworare's Point of Order adding that Senators will take their turns on the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu also makes some clarifications on the debate on the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate Chief Whip, Professor Adeyeye says both DSP Ekweremadu and Senator @jideomoworare are correct in their contributions.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Adeyeye adds that the Senate Order Paper points out that today is the first allotted day for the debate on the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate President @bukolasaraki says he wants the Senate to make progress on the #AppropriationBill and that today is the first out of…

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

…three days allotted for the #AppropriationBill debate & if not enough will be increased to allow the contributions of all Senators.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate Leader Ndume takes the floor once again and takes the lead debate on the 2016 #AppropriationBill. He speaks on the basic principles.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate Leader Ndumes says he believes that the estimates in the #AppropriationBill is for the benefit of the people of Nigeria.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Ndume asks for the support of all Senators for the Senate to pass the second reading of the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate President @bukolasaraki says Senators will take turns while complying with senate rules for 5Mins each with the Whip as timekeeper.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate President @bukolasaraki now says he will follow the list before him in calling on Senators to speak on the #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate President @bukolasaraki calls on @SenatorAbaribe to speak on the #2016Budget #AppropriationBill. He takes the Floor.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Sen. Abaribe says "the budget is unique in that the Finance Minister has not come to brief the Senate-this is change in the wrong direction"

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Ahmed Lawan during the debate of the #2016Budget made a case for why @PdpNigeria must support @MBuhari on the #appropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

A mild uproar fills the Senate as @SenatorAbaribe concludes his contributions on the #2016Budget #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Ahmed Lawan during the debate of the #2016Budget made a case for why @PdpNigeria must support @MBuhari on the #appropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

A mild uproar fills the Senate as @SenatorAbaribe concludes his contributions on the #2016Budget #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Jibrin Barau now takes the Floor. He speaks on the need to revisit the estimated price per barrel of crude oil in the #2016Budget.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Phillip Aduda now takes the Floor speaking on the allocation to the Federal Capital Territory & the need to set up an economic team.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Phillip Aduda now takes the Floor speaking on the allocation to the Federal Capital Territory & the need to set up an economic team.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Ali Wakil says most of the problems of the Nigerian Nation – mortality, insecurity and co is being addressed by the #2016Budget.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Sen @jideomoworare has challenged @PdpNigeria why in 16 years it failed to fix our refineries #2016budget #AppropriationBill

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @jideomoworare now takes the floor. He says the #2016Budget is not about "sharing the national cake but about baking the cake".

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @jideomoworare adds that it is disgraceful that its a country that Nigeria contributed to its democracy thatnow controls our economy

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Furthermore…

Senator John Enoh now takes the floor. He says the #2016budget is "based on assumptions regarding the oil benchmark and exchange rates".

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @YAYIAdeola says "he prays the estimates in the budget are implemented to the letter and not another SureP fund".

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu now takes the floor to admonish Senators to look at the #2016budget dispassionately without sentiments.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

DSP Ekweremadu says his greatest worry is the signal of prosperity that the over N6Trillion #2016budget is sending to the Int'l community.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

DSP Ekweremadu adds that borrowing be reduced even as the price of running Govt. must go down while looking critically at the #2016Budget.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Rose Oko contributes to the #2016Budget asking where we are to borrow thedeficit from. She says the fate of the Nation be looked at.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Barnabas Gemade now takes the Floor. He says "I believe this #2016Budget is truly the budget of change".

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Gemade speaks on diversification of the economy, job creation and employment and solid mineral explorations.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Gemade says there must be a conscious effort towards export promotion. He says goods- oranges and food waste in his state.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Barnabas Gemade concludes saying there is the need to look at issues surrounding the tax system.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Utazi says the assumption that it is a perfect budget is not advisable. He raises issues on youth employment, power, works and IGR.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Peter Nwaboshi now takes the floor. He raises concerns on the breakdown of about 300Billion not made in the #2016Budget

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Peter Nwaboshi says "this budget is a fraud".

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator Misau says he wanted to raise a point of order earlier that most senators were speaking as if they are in a political rally.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @benmurraybruce now takes the floor.
He speaks #CommonSense regarding the #2016Budget

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senator @benmurraybruce speaks on the economy, Agriculture and other salient parts of the #2016Budget

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

After the senators had taken the floor…

Senate President @bukolasaraki now appreciates all Senators for their contributions. He says he will give his remarks subsequently.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate Leader Ndume now moves that the Senate stand down all other motions on the order paper. @senakpabio seconds.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

Senate adjourns to Thursday 21st January, 2016.
The debate on the #2016Budget #AppropriationBill continues.#GavelBangs

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016

The Order Paper for today Wednesday 20th January, 2016. pic.twitter.com/69RqXj7TrP

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 20, 2016