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Tag: 2018 BUDGET

  • Dickson presents N295bn budget for 2018

    Dickson presents N295bn budget for 2018

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Friday presented an appropriation bill of N295 billion to the state House of Assembly for deliberation and approval for the 2018 fiscal year.

    Presenting the budget on the floor of the House in Yenagoa, Dickson said the estimates comprised a capital expenditure of N146.9 billion.

    The Appropriation Bill is christened “Finishing Strong on Development, Stability and Prosperity Volume One.”

    The governor said the budget would focus on consolidation and completion of ongoing capital projects, particularly the three senatorial roads and the state airport.

    Dickson, who described the outgoing year as ground breaking and challenging, expressed the hope that there would be increased revenue as evidenced in the rise in federal allocation in the last two quarters of the year.

    On sectoral allocations, Dickson announced N36 billion for Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, which got the lion share, followed by Education with over N22 billion while health had N8.5 billion.

    The Ministry of Power was allocated N6.5 billion; Ministry of Information got N2 billion and N2.5 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Lands and Survey.

    N2 billion was earmarked for Community Development.

    Others are Science and Technology which got N1 billion with Trade, Industry and Investment receiving N4 billion.

    The governor assured that by 2018, the government would do more work on education development.

    NAN

     

  • Akeredolu presents N171bn 2018 budget to Ondo Assembly

    Akeredolu presents N171bn 2018 budget to Ondo Assembly

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Friday presented an appropriation bill of N171 billion for the 2018 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for scrutiny and approval.

    The estimates, christened “Budget of Progress,” earmarked N81.521 billion for recurrent expenditure and N68.096 for capital votes.

    He said the budget reflected the collective aspiration of the people of the state, after having consulted widely to incorporate the input of all stakeholders.

    Akeredolu said the budget captured the essence of his administration’s blueprint, adding that the document was christened “Budget of Progress” to achieve the programmes in his administration’s Strategic Development and Policy Implementation.

    According to him, his administration will pursue activities targeted at encouraging productivity and creation of real opportunity for the people in the next fiscal year.

    He therefore, asked the state Assembly to give the budget realistic scrutiny before approval.

    Akeredolu also lauded the lawmakers for passing all the Public Financial Management laws which had been pending before the House for six years.

    The governor said: “The 2018 budget is designed to achieve stability, fiscal re-prioritisation and consolidation to create the base for sustainable growth and development.

    “It is focused on reversing the growth of debt, unsustainable deficits and the burden of interest payments which is almost unsustainable.

    “The 2018 budget estimates will focus on rebuilding the state’s economy through prioritised investment on infrastructure and agriculture-related activities.”

    The governor listed the objectives of the budget, including intensifying efforts on independent revenue initiatives, massive infrastructure development and wealth creation through empowerment of youths, artisans, farmers and market women.

    NAN

     

     

  • Ex-lawmaker raises hope on 2018 budget

    A former lawmaker is optimistic that next year’s budget will be better run.

    Former House of Representatives Finance Committee Deputy Chairman, Abayomi Ogunnusi said indicators showed that the economy is picking up, with positive growth, which will lead to an increase in wealth and job creation.

    He said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) anticipated global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.7 per cent this year. “Emerging markets and developing economies are expected to lead with GDP growth of 4.9 percent of which Nigeria is one of the emerging markets, while advanced economies are projected to grow at a slower rate of two percent,” he said.

    He said Nigeria had assumed a GDP growth of 3.5 per cent for fiscal 2018. “Nigeria’s journey out of recession was a revealing one and also an indication that the country is on the part of growth and a true reflection of the optimism expected next year,” he said.

    Ogunnusi said on-going discussions and peace initiatives in the Niger Delta region and the enforcement of the Amnesty programme to ensure and maintain relative peace in the economic zone which so far has yielded moderate success. Therefore, the expected revenues in the oil and gas sector are projected to be actualised.

    “The successes recorded in the fight against insurgence and terrorism attacks in the North-east have led to relative peace in that region and with the various government’s social rehabilitation programmes. Recently, the signing into law of the Northeast Development Commission Bill will enhance and restore the economic life of the region. This should allow citizens to return to their farms and create economic activity yielding better food security and tax revenue to government,” he said.

    He said there must be reform in the area of ease of doing business. “A recently released World Bank business ranking report announced that Nigeria had moved 24 places to 145th position in 2017. The report also stated that Nigeria is among the top 10 reforming countries in the world. To ensure these reforms are institutionalised, an Executive Order on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment was issued in May 2017,” he said.

    “The Order contained measures that ease the process of business registration, approval of permits, granting visas and streamlining port operations. These are critical to attracting new investments, growing the economy and creating jobs for our people,”he said.

    He said unrealistic revenue projections in budgeting always lead to a poorly implemented budget.

    He said that in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), the Executive first projected N5.646 trillion as revenue for Fiscal 2018.

    “I raised concerns over this amount considering particularly, a clearly over ambitious sub head of FGN independent revenue which was projected at N847 billion when only N155 billion has been achieved as at September for Fiscal 2017,” he said.

    He said the 2018 budget has been said to be a budget of consolidation. The main aim is to consolidate on the previous gains of the past years.

    “The major projects to drive the desired economic growth, development and foster the desired change is largely dependent on the sustainability of capital expenditure which will boost infrastruc-tural development and proffer a veritable economic environment conducive for businesses to strive,” he said.

    He explained that some key priority capital projects cut across power, works and housing with special emphasis on roads infrastructure and , transportation (with emphasis on railway projects), housing sector, agriculture and rural development, education, health  sector, Niger Delta economic areas, zonal intervention and northeast region development and integration.

     

  • Ex-lawmaker raises hope on 2018 budget

    A former lawmaker is optimistic that next year’s budget will be better run.

    Former House of Representatives Finance Committee Deputy Chairman, Abayomi Ogunnusi said indicators showed that the economy is picking up, with positive growth, which will lead to an increase in wealth and job creation.

    He said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) anticipated global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.7 per cent this year. “Emerging markets and developing economies are expected to lead with GDP growth of 4.9 percent of which Nigeria is one of the emerging markets, while advanced economies are projected to grow at a slower rate of two percent,” he said.

    He said Nigeria had assumed a GDP growth of 3.5 per cent for fiscal 2018. “Nigeria’s journey out of recession was a revealing one and also an indication that the country is on the part of growth and a true reflection of the optimism expected next year,” he said.

    Ogunnusi said on-going discussions and peace initiatives in the Niger Delta region and the enforcement of the Amnesty programme to ensure and maintain relative peace in the economic zone which so far has yielded moderate success. Therefore, the expected revenues in the oil and gas sector are projected to be actualised.

    “The successes recorded in the fight against insurgence and terrorism attacks in the North-east have led to relative peace in that region and with the various government’s social rehabilitation programmes. Recently, the signing into law of the Northeast Development Commission Bill will enhance and restore the economic life of the region. This should allow citizens to return to their farms and create economic activity yielding better food security and tax revenue to government,” he said.

    He said there must be reform in the area of ease of doing business. “A recently released World Bank business ranking report announced that Nigeria had moved 24 places to 145th position in 2017. The report also stated that Nigeria is among the top 10 reforming countries in the world. To ensure these reforms are institutionalised, an Executive Order on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency in the Business Environment was issued in May 2017,” he said.

    “The Order contained measures that ease the process of business registration, approval of permits, granting visas and streamlining port operations. These are critical to attracting new investments, growing the economy and creating jobs for our people,”he said.

    He said unrealistic revenue projections in budgeting always lead to a poorly implemented budget.

    He said that in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), the Executive first projected N5.646 trillion as revenue for Fiscal 2018.

    “I raised concerns over this amount considering particularly, a clearly over ambitious sub head of FGN independent revenue which was projected at N847 billion when only N155 billion has been achieved as at September for Fiscal 2017,” he said.

    He said the 2018 budget has been said to be a budget of consolidation. The main aim is to consolidate on the previous gains of the past years.

    “The major projects to drive the desired economic growth, development and foster the desired change is largely dependent on the sustainability of capital expenditure which will boost infrastruc-tural development and proffer a veritable economic environment conducive for businesses to strive,” he said.

    He explained that some key priority capital projects cut across power, works and housing with special emphasis on roads infrastructure and , transportation (with emphasis on railway projects), housing sector, agriculture and rural development, education, health  sector, Niger Delta economic areas, zonal intervention and northeast region development and integration.

  • Crisis: Senate threatens to dump 2018 budget

    Crisis: Senate threatens to dump 2018 budget

    Nigerians may not have heard the last about the passage of the 2018 budget presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 7.

    Senators in plenary Tuesday threatened to dump the fiscal estimate over alleged inconsistencies and abysmal performance of the 2017 budget.

    The lawmakers took turns to criticize the performance of the 2017 budget, taking cognizance of what they called extremely low releases by the Ministry of Finance to fund projected capital projects.

    They insisted that the promised passaged of the 2018 budget before the end of the year was no longer feasible.

    The senators said that the promise by President Buhari that 40 per cent of the 2017 budget would be achieved before the end of the year while remaining the balance of 60 per cent would be rolled over to 2018, has not be adhered to.

    The lawmakers were particularly irked by the observation that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), only attained 15-20 per cent 2017 budget performance.

    This, they said, was despite repeated assurances by the executive arm that improvement in releases of funds will be made.

    Most MDAs, they said, were yet to receive funds to pay salaries and as well as fund other recurrent components of the 2017 budget.

    For them, the declaration by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, that N750 billion had been released, remained questionable.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s intervention saved the day as no resolution was taken at the end lengthy debate on the performance of the 2017 budget.

    Many of those who contributed to the debate wanted the lifespan of the 2017 budget to be extended to  31st of March, 2018.

    It was the opinion of the speakers that until the 2017 budget attained a high level of performance, the implementation of the budget should not be truncated by the passage of the 2018 budget.

    The debate of the performance of the 2017 budget followed a closed door session where the lawmakers were also said to have bared their minds.

    Although Saraki broached the issue of what really transpired at the closed session, Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah raised a point of order.

    Na’Allah cited Order 42 and 45 of the Senate Standing Rules to buttress his point.

    The Kebbi South lawmaker told his colleagues that the plan to pass the 2018 budget before the end of 2017 was no longer feasible due to prevailing circumstances.

    He warned that the prevailing template of the budget will continue to pose serious challenges to the Federal Government in the implementation of the budget.

    Na’Allah noted that the template was developed and adopted during the Military era specifically when Kalu Idika Kalu was Finance minister.

    He said that issue should be extensively discussed in order to proffer solutions.

    Na’Allah said: “I feel that there are certain aspects that the Senate has so many things to discuss. When we suspended the plenary for two weeks, the intention was to enable committees work. They are supposed to report progress in order to enable the Senate pass the budget before the end of the year or early next year.

    “When we suspended plenary, it was with the idea that the committees will swing into action so we can have a tentative date to pass the budget. From what I have seen, we might run into troubled waters. If we have not appreciated what the problems are, it is important for Nigerians to come here and understand what the problem is.

    “The template we are using will continue to create problems for us. It was created during the Military era. The template cannot work in our country today. From reports we have had, it is obvious that we have problems. We need to know what the problems are. If we have a 2017 budget that has not been executed today and we are considering the 2018 budget, it means there is a problem.

    “The President told us that the 2017 budget was going to achieve at least 60 per cent performance. Today, that has not happened. We need to lay this issue and discuss it. Let us put the facts before the Executive and show Nigerians the difficulties we are facing.”

    Senator Barnabas Gemade, in his contribution suggested that the consideration of the 2018 budget be suspended.

    He also suggested that the lifespan of the 2017 budget be extended to end of March of 2018.

    Gemade said, “This point of order raised is important because of what the public is waiting for. Our two weeks committee work should have led us to where we will lay the report and pass the budget. As was indicted, we need to appreciate the efforts of the executive who is trying to return the budget year from January to December.

    “What we have seen is far from the 40 per cent capital project implementation we were told. In many MDAs, budget performance is hovering between 12 to 15 per cent. In early November, the borrowing plans were brought and we approved it. They said they were going to release more funds. As of now, we cannot say if that is true.

    “In defending the budget, MDAs are supposed to bring their 2017 budget performance to committees. When you look at the budget proposals brought here, many things captured in the 2017 budget were not rolled over. Committees and MDAs need to do some work.

    “We have to set a date for the implementation of the 2017 budget based on the borrowing plans we approved. I therefore propose that we set March 31st for the 2017 budget to be implemented before we can start working on the 2018 budget. We need to guide against abandonment of ongoing projects.”

    Senator Solomon Adeola wondered why the Senate should consider and approve the 2018 budget, when the performance of the 2017 budget is unknown.

    The Lagos West senator prayed the Senate to invite the Minister of Finance, Mrs Adeosun to brief the chamber on the troubling low performance of the budget and why her Ministry is not releasing funds.

    Adeola said, “How can we approve the 2018 budget without knowing the performance of 2017 budget? This is abnormal. From the recent budget defences, it is obvious that MDAs are not ready. Year in, year out, the budget performance is low. Last week, a Minister was asked to excuse lawmakers because he did come prepared. He did not come with the necessary documents to defend the budget of his Ministry.

    “We need to show to Nigerians that the National Assembly is ready to approve the budget. Remember that the President during the presentation of the 2018 budget, said the performance of the 2017 budget will attain at least 40 per cent. But that has not been done. I am suggesting that we invite the Minister of Finance to brief us on the performance of the 2017 budget. We need to be told.

    “Remember how the Executive submitted the MTEF and withdrew it again. It submitted it and withdrew it again. It shows the lack of seriousness on the part of economic managers of the country.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, noted that the consideration of the 2018 budget be suspended, pending when the 2017 budget will attain appreciable level of performance.

    He said, “I want to say that the budget of 2018 is already bedeviled. For us to be able to determine the 2018, we need to see the performance of 2017. Many MDAs are complaining that what they are getting for recurrent expenditure is not even for them. More worrisome is the capital expenditure.

    “Last week, the Minister of Finance announced that N750 billion had been released. If this money has been released, MDAs are yet to get this money. With the envelope budgeting they are doing, we do not know what has been given to MDAs.

    “I want to say that every consideration about the 2018 budget should be put at bay. This executive is not serious. Let them tell us what they have done with the 2017 budget. The budget presentation is an annual ritual that is not benefiting anybody,” he said.

    Senator Mohammed Hassan, (Yobe South) proposed the setting up of a technical committee to come up with a standard format on how to handle the 2018 budget.

    He specifically listed the inclusion of N8.5 billion in the budget of Ministry of Power for counterpart funding of the Mambila Power projected when the National Assembly had already approved a loan of $5.5 billion for the presidency.

    He noted that the Senate was told that part of the $5.5 billion loan would be used for the counterpart funding of the Mambila power project.

    Hassan said: “Many of us have been made to do the work of the executive. We need to set up a small technical committee to come up with a standard format on how to handle the 2018 budget. It is very important to do that.”

    Senator Dino Melaye, on his part, described the 2018 budget as a ‘boju boju’ document.

    The Kogi West lawmaker said that it was obvious that the 2018 budget proposal was “garnished with deception.”

    He stated: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, said during the budget presentation that the 2017 budget will be rolled over. I took the 2017 budget and went through it page by page. There is no relationship between the two documents. The budget we received was a ‘boju boju’ budget. Why do we package a 2018 budget that was garnished with deception”

    “There is about N850 trillion with the CBN. There is an outstanding of N1.5 trillion from collection of stamp duties with the CBN. This money has not been remitted. Yet we took over N2 trillion loan. We need to strengthen the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    “The NNPC was supposed to remit hundreds of billions of naira last year. They did not do that. Yet, we say we are fighting corruption. We cannot continue in sin and ask grace to abound. The issue of discussing the 2018 budget should not even arise.

    “Enough is enough. We must ensure that the 2017 budget is properly implemented. We must ensure that the budget is an elitist. What they have brought to us is a just a proposal. We need to give Nigerians a budget that will benefit Nigerians.”

    Saraki who did not subject the points and proposal made to vote noted that if the executive refused to act, by rolling over the 2017 budget as promised, it will be a disaster.

    Saraki added that lawmakers are not magicians.

    He said, “Truly, it is very disheartening and disappointing because we know how much we have put into the budget process. How can anybody who is responsible travel at this period when the budget defence is ongoing?

    “The budget has not been implemented. We cannot be magicians. We just have to work and give a good budget to Nigerians. The executive really needs to sit up. If they have refused to roll over the 2017 projects into 2018, it is a disaster. We have to work with what we have.”

  • Okowa signs 2018 budget

    Okowa signs 2018 budget

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N308 billion into law.

    He promised that his administration will ensure a full implementation of the budget.

    He said: “I urge Deltans to cooperate with us because with peace, we will fully implement the 2018 budget. Ours is to make Deltans happy, and we are confident that at the end of 2018, we will be having a 100 per cent performance if not more than”.

    Speaker of the House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, his Deputy Friday Osanebi, and other principal officers, presented the budget to Okowa in Asaba. Oborevwori also presented the Delta State Remunerations, Salaries, Allowances, Gratuities and Pensions of Certain Public Office Holders and Bodies Amendment Bill 2017, which was also signed by the governor.

    Okowa, who lauded the synergy that exists between the three arms of government, described the budget as “realistic and realisable.”

    He said: “The budget is N308 billion and we are happy that the provision for the capital expenditure is more than what was provided for in the recurrent expenditure.”

    Okowa, on October 19, presented a budget proposal of N298 billion, but the House increased it by N10 billion.

    The governor hoped that the Delta State Remunerations, Salaries, Allowances, Gratuities and Pensions of Certain Public Office Holders and Bodies Amendment law 2017 would correct anomalies in salaries and allowances so that people will earn what they are entitled to.

  • Senate panel, power ministry at war over alleged budget padding

    Senate panel, power ministry at war over alleged budget padding

    The budget defence session between the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy and the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing was Monday declared inconclusive following alleged questionable duplications of items.

    Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Baba Shahuru and Permanent Secretary, Louis Edozie, were ordered by members of the committee to go and rework their documentation.

    The committee said that there were “too many duplications, repetitions and replications” in the presentation of the minister and the permanent secretary to be overlooked.

    Part of the details of the 2018 budget proposal the ministry officials presented at the session showed that N120 million, N480 million and N288 million were separately voted for purchase of utility vehicles by the Ministry.

    Another N100 million was earmarked for transfer and management of office files and documents.

    The lawmakers were furious that “year in, year out, the Ministry presents the same items in the budget and ask for more funds to execute the same projects.”

    Signs that the budget defence session might not end on good note started when Senator Clifford Ordia observed the duplication of purchase of utility vehicles, captured in three separate pages of the budget document.

    The Edo Central lawmaker also demanded explanation from the Minister and Permanent Secretary on why the Ministry planned to spend N100 million to transfer files.

    He added that there was another huge provision for ICT which should not be left hanging.

    Ordia said, “I need to understand this thing. Look at the different pages. You earmarked N120 million, N288 million and N480 million for the purchase of vehicles. I do not understand. Are these vehicles different? If you add up these figures, they will give you about N888 million.

    “You also said that you want to spend N100 million on transfer of office files. How do you intend to do that? The people in your office, what have they been doing? I can also see from your estimates here that you captured another item for ICT, different from the N100 million for transfer of files. You need to explain these things.”

    Another member of the committee, Senator Mohammed Hassan on his part noted that they were tired of seeing the same items every year.

    Hassan insisted that the minister and permanent secretary should take steps to put the ministry in order in the interest of the country.

    Hassan also demanded the breakdown of the N17.8 billion the ministry received in 2017 stating where the money was applied.

    The Yobe South lawmaker said, “Every year you bring new projects that are unrelated. We should be given list of ongoing projects. Unrelated projects are listed, nobody knows how much has been applied to the projects.”

    Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, another member of the committee said: “From the beginning to the end of the documentation there are questions and questions to be asked. Most of the funds were duplicated in the Transmission Company of Nigeria budget.

    “Mr. Minister, you said you will provide answers to our questions later. Why do we waste time sitting here when answers to our questions will be provided another day. They are not prepared for the budget defence. They should go back when they are prepared they should come back.”

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, noted that the 2017 budget (capital) of the Ministry recorded 18 only per cent performance.

    Abaribe said, “We will take it that the 2017 budget was abysmally low at only 18 per cent performance. This is unacceptable and I need to put it on record.”

    A mild drama ensued, when the Minister of State, Shahuru, could not respond to questions.

    Instead of answering the questions, Shahuru asked the committee to allow the Permanent Secretary, Edozie to provide answers on his behalf.

    His request was rejected by senators.

    Abaribe told the minister, “You were sent here to represent the Minister. It means you are here to respond to our questions. Last week, we invited the Permanent Secretary to respond. Today, it is your turn.

    “My colleagues asked me how come you are the person here and not Minister Fashola. But I told them since you were also a Minister, you could be here to on behalf of your Minister.”

    Asked why the substantive Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, did not show up for the budget defence,  Shahuru, said that Fashola was attending to other state matters.

    Speaking on Fashola’s absence Abaribe said: “Maybe Fashola decided to snub us because of some media reports last week. But he ought not to have been angry by that. I am sure that was why he sent you because he did not want to come here.

    “I said it that it was deliberate that Fashola did not show up. What we need to scrutinise the budget was not provided. We needed something to make the process easy. Nobody is satisfied with these vague items. We are going to adjourn this meeting, pending when we will get these submissions from you.”

    “We are asking you to inform the Minister to be here to properly respond to all the questions we need to ask. We will do a comprehensive letter asking for explanation on items where we have raised questions. That will guide you in giving your submissions. We need you to be prepared when next you come.”

  • Budget: Reps insist on minister’s appearance

    Budget: Reps insist on minister’s appearance

    House of Representatives said on Thursday it should not be held responsible for the late passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

    The lawmakers said they are ready to accept the President’s request for speedy passage of the budget.

    However, to ensure early passage of the budget, the House said heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must respond swiftly to its invitation for budget session without undue excuses.

    The warning followed the refusal of House Committee on Commerce to sit down with the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, who represented the Minister, Okechukwu Enelamah, at the Committee’s budget session.

    Before the appearance of the Minister of State, the Committee Chairman, Sylvester Ogbaga, had warned that heads of MDAs that failed to appear for budget session would put their agencies in danger of having zero allocation for 2018.

    He said Enelamah had never found it necessary to honour the Committee’s invitation for budget session.

    The Committee refused to question Abubakar on the budget despite allowing her to present the ministry 2018 budget proposal.

     

  • El-Rufai signs N216bn, 2018 budget into law

    El-Rufai signs N216bn, 2018 budget into law

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has signed the N216.55 billion, 2018 budget passed by the State House of Assembly into law.

    The budget is made up of N131.1 billion capital expenditure and N85.44 billion recurrent expenditure.

    El-Rufai signed the budget at a ceremony at the Government House in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    “We have deliberately tagged it as Budget of Consolidation, because it is the last full annual budget before the 2019 election,’’ he said.

    He said the budget was designed “to complete many projects we have commenced in the service of our people”.

    “As I said while presenting the budget, we have published a record number of tenders as we try to achieve the goals outlined in our manifesto, these tenders have led to the commencement of many projects across the state.

    “We have looked at inherited projects that we considered feasible and viable, some of these have been completed, but others are at various stages of completion,’’ El Rufai said.

    The State House of Assembly had passed the N216 billion budget into law with an increase of N100 million.

    Read Also: Anyone standing to challenge Buhari is wasting his time – El-rufai

  • Bello to Present 2018 Budget on Thursday

    Bello to Present 2018 Budget on Thursday

    Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello will on Thursday present the 2018 budget estimate to the state House of Assembly.

    The Governor made his intention known in a letter written to the House of Assembly on Tuesday.

    The letter was read during plenary by the Speaker of the Assembly, Honorable Ahmed Marafa.

    The Governor, in the letter, solicited the support and cooperation of the Assembly during and after the presentation of the budget, “I hope you will accord me the necessary cooperation for the occasion as you have always done. ”

    Apparently in a bid to have a soft landing during the presentation of the budget and to appease the displeasure of the Legislators, the Governor approved the resolution of the Assembly to suspend the Chairman of the Mashegu local government area, Honorable Shakiru Shuaibu.

    The Assembly, a month ago, passed a resolution that the Chairman of Mashegu local government area of the state be suspended over alledged financial misconduct and disrespect to the legislators.

    The resolution was taken after an oversight function to the local government where the financial misconduct of the Chairman was exposed; after the resolution was passed, nothing have been heard from the Governor until the notification for the presentation of the budget was received by the Legislators.

    It would be recalled that the Legislators had rejected the lists of Commissioners nominees sent to them by the Governor in a bid to show their displeasure over the number of bills and resolutions he has refused to honor.

    The Legislators have silently declared war for the Governor over his adamant refusal to honor resolutions and bills sent to him by the Assembly and the rejection of the Commissioners nominees list was a tip on the iceberg.