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President Muhammadu Buhari signing the 2018
Appropriation Bill into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday
(20/6/18). Standing behind him are: Senior Special Assistant to the President
on National Assembly Matter (House)
Suleiman Kawu; Representative of the Senate President, Sen Ibn Na’ala; Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Mustapha Bala; Senior
Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matter (Senate) Sen Ita Enang; Chairman, Senate
Committee on Appropriation, Sen Danjuma Goje; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Representative
of Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep Ado Doguwa and Chief of Staff, Alhaji
Abba Kyari.
Appropriation Bill into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday
(20/6/18). Standing behind him are: Senior Special Assistant to the President
on National Assembly Matter (House)
Suleiman Kawu; Representative of the Senate President, Sen Ibn Na’ala; Chairman,
House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Mustapha Bala; Senior
Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matter (Senate) Sen Ita Enang; Chairman, Senate
Committee on Appropriation, Sen Danjuma Goje; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Representative
of Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep Ado Doguwa and Chief of Staff, Alhaji
Abba Kyari.
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03269/20/6/2018/Callistus
Ewelike/NAN |
The Nigerian’s President, Muhammadu Buhari
on Wednesday signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N9.12 trillion into law
after seven months of its submission to National Assembly (NASS).
The President, however, expressed concern
over changes made by NASS to the budget proposal.
over changes made by NASS to the budget proposal.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on
Oct. 26, 2017 approved the 2018 draft budget of N8.612 trillion but NASS
increased the budget from N8.612 trillion earlier proposed to N9.12 trillion.
Oct. 26, 2017 approved the 2018 draft budget of N8.612 trillion but NASS
increased the budget from N8.612 trillion earlier proposed to N9.12 trillion.
The Senate also increased the crude oil
benchmark for the budget from 45 dollars per barrel to 50.5 dollars per barrel.
benchmark for the budget from 45 dollars per barrel to 50.5 dollars per barrel.
Buhari then noted with concern that the
National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to
4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403
projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.
National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to
4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403
projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.
The President said “many of the projects
cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the
reduced allocation. Some of the new
projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly
conceptualised, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.
cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the
reduced allocation. Some of the new
projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly
conceptualised, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.
“Furthermore, many of these new projects
introduced by NASS have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no
consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental
recurrent expenditure that may be required.
introduced by NASS have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no
consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental
recurrent expenditure that may be required.
“As it is, some of these projects relate to
matters that are the responsibility of states and local governments, and for
which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.’’
matters that are the responsibility of states and local governments, and for
which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.’’
The President pointed out that another area
of concern was the increase in the provisions for Statutory Transfers by an
aggregate of N73.96 billion by NASS.
of concern was the increase in the provisions for Statutory Transfers by an
aggregate of N73.96 billion by NASS.
According to him, most of the increases are
for recurrent expenditure at a time when the administration is trying to keep
down the cost of governance.
for recurrent expenditure at a time when the administration is trying to keep
down the cost of governance.
He said: “an example of this increase is
the budget of the National Assembly itself, increased by N14.5 billion from
N125 billion to N139.5 billion without any discussion with the Executive.’’
the budget of the National Assembly itself, increased by N14.5 billion from
N125 billion to N139.5 billion without any discussion with the Executive.’’
The President, however, thanked the
leadership of NASS, particularly the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Senators and members for passing the 2018
Appropriation Bill after seven months.
leadership of NASS, particularly the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Senators and members for passing the 2018
Appropriation Bill after seven months.
In a related development, the Federal
Government has released N1.58 trillion as capital expenditure to Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs), from the 2017 budget.
Government has released N1.58 trillion as capital expenditure to Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs), from the 2017 budget.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun
disclosed this in a statement issued by Director, Information in the ministry,
Mr Hassan Dodo on Tuesday in Abuja.
disclosed this in a statement issued by Director, Information in the ministry,
Mr Hassan Dodo on Tuesday in Abuja.
Adeosun said the N1.58 trillion total
capital releases for 2017 were higher than the N1.219 trillion total capital
releases for 2016.
capital releases for 2017 were higher than the N1.219 trillion total capital
releases for 2016.
The minister said that in the 2017 capital
releases, the Power, Works and Housing sectors received the highest allocation
of N523 billion which was 33.10 per cent of the total capital releases.
releases, the Power, Works and Housing sectors received the highest allocation
of N523 billion which was 33.10 per cent of the total capital releases.
“The sector received the highest releases
in the 2016 capital budget, which was a total of N307.4 billion (25.21 per
cent) of the 2016 capital budget.
in the 2016 capital budget, which was a total of N307.4 billion (25.21 per
cent) of the 2016 capital budget.
“Defence and security sector received the
second highest capital releases of N197.5 billion (12.50 per cent) in 2017, as
against N77.5 billion (6.36 per cent) total releases the sector received in
2016,’’ she said.
second highest capital releases of N197.5 billion (12.50 per cent) in 2017, as
against N77.5 billion (6.36 per cent) total releases the sector received in
2016,’’ she said.
The minister said that Agriculture and
Water Resources sector received N149.4 billion (9.46 per cent) in 2017, adding
that the sector received N143.1 billion (11.74 per cent) of capital releases in
2016.
Water Resources sector received N149.4 billion (9.46 per cent) in 2017, adding
that the sector received N143.1 billion (11.74 per cent) of capital releases in
2016.
Adeosun said that Transportation sector
received N126.2 billion (7.99 per cent) of the 2017 capital releases as against
N171.9 billion (14.10 per cent) it received in 2016.
received N126.2 billion (7.99 per cent) of the 2017 capital releases as against
N171.9 billion (14.10 per cent) it received in 2016.
“Health and Education sectors together
received N98.1 billion (6.21 per cent) for 2017 as against N56, 270,030,992.00
(4.61 per cent) the sectors received in 2016.
received N98.1 billion (6.21 per cent) for 2017 as against N56, 270,030,992.00
(4.61 per cent) the sectors received in 2016.
“Other sectors combined received N485.7
billion, which was 30.74 per cent of the 2017 capital releases.
billion, which was 30.74 per cent of the 2017 capital releases.
“In 2016, a total of N463.2 billion (37.99
per cent) was disbursed to these sectors,” she said.
per cent) was disbursed to these sectors,” she said.
Adeosun, however, said that in spite of the
economic challenges in 2017, the Federal Government was able to fully cash-back
the capital releases.
economic challenges in 2017, the Federal Government was able to fully cash-back
the capital releases.
In addition, she said the sustained high
allocations to key sectors were a reflection of the government’s commitment to
infrastructure development in the country.
allocations to key sectors were a reflection of the government’s commitment to
infrastructure development in the country.
She also said that the Federal Government
was working assiduously to attract private capital to complement government
spending in these key areas.
was working assiduously to attract private capital to complement government
spending in these key areas.
