2018 budget started on faulty consultations with relevant bodies—Dogara
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has fingered faulty channels of consultations during the period of the preparation of the 2018 national budget as a possible stumbling block in the expected smooth consideration of the document by the National Assembly.
In his goodwill message used to round off the 2018 Appropriation Bill presentation ceremony at the joint seating of the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, he made it technically clear that issues of poor consultations in preparing the national documents are always the cause of delays in the work of the lawmakers during debates and Committee stages.
WITH this, he may have given a pointer to a possible hiccup in the smooth passage of the budget on or before December 31st as expected by Nigerians.
Dogara further captured the nature of the existing relationship between the executives and legislature and advised President Buhari that “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together”
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of the national Assembly and Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki listed key points and technical advice to the presidency and the executive arm of the government to learn from to avoid momentary misunderstanding with the lawmakers from time to time.
According to him, the executive must among other things, Reset fundamental to avoid plunging economy back to recession; Review laws guiding government enterprises (Govt spend more than income); NASS to sanction for agencies whose budgets are not contained in 2018 budget; Borrow for projected targets that will grow economy only; No overpriced borrowing and projects; Budget along with finance bills of projects; and 2018 must be job oriented budget
Other issues stressed by Senate president include Support for made in Nigeria goods to control FG procurements; Remove bureaucracy to speed up procurement; Complement reforms in ease of doing business with targeted spending; Economic reform bills needed; Equity, balanced development nationwide; Well distributed infrastructural development nationwide; Rising rural-urban migration must be stopped; Don’t dampen implementation of 2017 budget because of 2018 budget; Good working relations between NASS and Executives will fasten passage of 2018 budget; and finally, Lobby and close ranks with lawmakers to succeed.
Details of the 2018 Appropriation bill as presented by President Buhari showed a total of N8.612 trillion.
Other critical fundamentals of the budget include a benchmark of 45 dollars per barrel at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar in 2018.
According to him, the budget would consolidate on the achievements of previous budgets to aggressively steer the economy to the path of steady growth.
Buhari averred that “With the economic recovery made so far, it is clear that we made the right decisions.
“And I urge you all to support the Federal Government’s policies towards economic recovery,’’ he said.
Other critical figures of the budget estimates are as follows;
