Adjustment of 2019 budget by National Assembly may affect its smooth implementation —Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari who, on Monday, signed the 2019
appropriation bill of N8.92trn into law, said adjustment of the
budget by the National Assembly might affect its smooth
implementation.

Speaking at the event which took place at the President’s mini
conference room, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, President
Buhari said the addition of about N90bn to the N8.83trn he
submitted to the legislature would make it difficult for government
to realise its set objectives.

He, however, stated that the executive arm of government would
hold a dialogue with the forthcoming Ninth National Assembly so as
to make life better for the generality of Nigerians.

“Of course, some of these changes will adversely impact our
programmes, making it difficult for us to achieve the objectives of
the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

“Although I will be signing this bill, it is my intention to
engage the National Assembly to ensure we deliver on our
promises.

“I will, therefore, be engaging with the leadership of the Ninth
National Assembly as soon as they emerge, to address some of our
concerns with the budget,’’ he said.

According to the President, his administration will look at how
to improve the budget process in order to speed up its
consideration as well as return the country to the January to
December fiscal year timetable.

He appreciated the Ministers of Budget and National Planning,
Finance, the budget office of the federation and all other
stakeholders that played key roles in producing the document.

President Buhari also lauded the leadership and members of the
National Assembly for the efforts they put in passing the 2019
appropriation bill.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Budget and National
Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, thanked the leadership of the National
Assembly for their cooperation and support.

He also thanked the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,
ministers and all members of the Economic Management Team for the
various roles they played in producing the budget.

He said: “Because it is a collective endeavour, without their
support, it would have been impossible to produce a budget.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the dignitaries who
witnessed the ceremony included the Senate President Bukola Saraki
and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss
Mustapha; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, also
witnessed the signing of the budget.

Others at the event were the ministers of Finance (Zainab
Ahmed), Budget and National Planning (Udoma Udo Udoma), Information
and Culture (Lai Mohammed) and Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, Danjuma Goje,

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National
Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; and his counterpart
for the House of Representatives, Umar el-Yakub, were also at the
event.

On June 6, 2018, Buhari signed the 2018 appropriation bill of
N9.120trn into law.

Udoma said after the signing into law that the budget would help
the President to consolidate the achievements of previous budgets
and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan
2017-2020.

He expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the 2017
budget, which saw the N1.5trn implementation of capital projects
during the 2017 fiscal year.

He said the government would work hard to recreate the same
achievement and generate the revenues required to finance projects
and programmes that would significantly improve the economy.

(NAN)

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