Buhari to present 2018 Budget to NASS as FEC okays estimates

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2018 Budget proposal to the National Assembly for consideration by early November, following the approval of the estimates on Thursday by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said that the FEC approved the 2018 budget estimates, saying, that he has no power to release the draft now.

Udoma stated this on Thursday while answering questions from State House correspondents after the meeting of the FEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the executive will liaise with the National Assembly on a date in which the president will formally submit the budget to them.

When asked for the details of the 2018 budget, the Minister said, “It is the president’s prerogative to submit the budget proposals and give the details.

He said, “I will be operating above my brief if I do that, the Constitution gives that authority to the president.”

He said that FEC approved the draft estimates after consideration by members of the cabinet.

The minister restated that the executive had earlier promised to get the budget ready by October, saying Wednesday’s decision was a fulfillment of that promise.

He also said the executive is submitting the budget early because of the quest to have it run from January to December.

“Before now we used to submit in December but now the budget is ready in October so there is a very big difference,” he added.