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2018 Budget cannot be ready by January 1st – House of Reps

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Reps say 2018 budget cannot be ready by January 1st

Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Abdulrazak Namdas has revealed that “a minimum of three months” is required before the 2018 budget can be ready.

Naija News recalls President Muhammadu Buhari had during his presentation of the budget to the national assembly earlier in November, appealed to the legislators  to make the 2018budget ready by January 1.

However, Namdas has said the January-to-December budget calendar is not feasible because there are about 20 legislative sitting days remaining in the year.

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“When the president presented his speech on the budget presentation day, he expressed the wish that the budget is approved by January 1.

“We are saying that we will work faster since the 2018 appropriation bill was brought a little bit earlier, we should also be able to approve the budget a little earlier.

READ ALSO: Senate Postpones debate on 2018 budget

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“But I cannot be specific about a date since we are few weeks to the end of December.

“This is about 20 sitting days. So, if I sit here in the comfort of my office to assure Nigerians that the budget will be passed by 1st of January, you and even they will know it’s not feasible.

“For the budget process, you should be looking at a minimum of three months.

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“We will deliberate on the basic principles of the budget, it will be committed to committees to work on it, meet with MDAs and they now send their report to the appropriation committee.

“All of these processes take time. I think people should be more concerned about the national assembly and the executive coming up with an implementable budget, rather than focusing on a January date.”