The House of Representatives, on Monday, cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government against extra-budgetary spending.

This is coming just as the lower chamber attested that there is no constitutional provision for tenure elongation as being speculated in the polity.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Honourable Albert Sam-Tsokwa, said the 1999 Constitution, as amended, empowered the president to spend before budgets were approved, noting, however, that with the current reality on ground, if the executive did not control spendings, the country could be plunged into financial crisis.

“I am aware that the constitution allows Mr President to spend an amount of money equivalent to the one that was spent in the preceding year, pending the approval of the budget. But the snag we have is that last year’s budget was based on a crude oil of over $100 per barrel, but as we speak, the price is barely $50 per barrel.

“So, if Mr President is to spend the equivalent of what was spent in a particular period last year this year, we will run into trouble.

“I will advise that Mr President thread cautiously and I call on legislators to expedite action on the budget and put it behind us before going for presidential and governorship elections,” he stated.

On the issue of alleged tenure elongation plan, he noted that “there is no provision in the constitution for all those rumours.

“Mr President has come out clearly to say that he is not party to it and we run and operate a constitutional democracy.

“Anything that anybody does must find expression in the constitution; so there is no such thing as tenure extension.

The only thing that can be done is if Mr President feels that the country is at war, he can submit a report to the National Assembly and the National Assembly will look at it on its merit.”