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| President Muhammadu Buhari |
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed displeasure over the lawmakers’ alteration of the 2018 spending plan
he sent to them for approval.
he sent to them for approval.
He said he may remedy the situation through a
supplementary and/or amendment budget.
supplementary and/or amendment budget.
The budget, estimated at N8.26 trillion, was presented to
the National Assembly on November 7, 2017.
the National Assembly on November 7, 2017.
It was later increased to N9.12 trillion by the lawmakers,
representing an increment of N508 billion, seven months after they got the
document.
representing an increment of N508 billion, seven months after they got the
document.
“I am however concerned about some of the changes
@nassnigeria has made to the budget proposals I presented,” Buhari said.
@nassnigeria has made to the budget proposals I presented,” Buhari said.
“The logic behind the Constitutional direction that
budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that it is the Executive that
knows & defines its policies and projects. Unfortunately, that has not been
given much regard in what has been sent to me.”
budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that it is the Executive that
knows & defines its policies and projects. Unfortunately, that has not been
given much regard in what has been sent to me.”
Buhari accused the lawmakers of
cutting funding up to N347 billion for 4700 projects. He said the National
Assembly, instead, introduced a total of 6,403 projects amounting to N578
billion, some of which he said will be difficult to execute because they have
not been properly “conceptualized, designed and costed.”
cutting funding up to N347 billion for 4700 projects. He said the National
Assembly, instead, introduced a total of 6,403 projects amounting to N578
billion, some of which he said will be difficult to execute because they have
not been properly “conceptualized, designed and costed.”
Many of the projects, according to Buhari, are critical to
Nigeria’s economy and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with
the reduced allocation.
Nigeria’s economy and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with
the reduced allocation.
ome of the projects with reduced
funding are listed below:
funding are listed below:
a. The provisions for some nationally/regionally strategic
infrastructure projects such as Counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power
Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo
Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project were cut by an
aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.
infrastructure projects such as Counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power
Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo
Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project were cut by an
aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.
b. Provisions for some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in
the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail
project, were cut by a total of 7.5 billion Naira.
the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail
project, were cut by a total of 7.5 billion Naira.
c. The provision for Rehabilitation and Additional Security
Measures for the United Nations Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9
billion Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 million Naira; this will make it
impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfil its commitment to
the United Nations on this project.
Measures for the United Nations Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9
billion Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 million Naira; this will make it
impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfil its commitment to
the United Nations on this project.
d. The provisions for various Strategic Interventions in the
health sector such as the upgrade of some tertiary health institutions,
transport and storage of vaccines through the cold chain supply system,
provision of anti-retroviral drugs for persons on treatment, establishment of
chemotherapy centres and procurement of dialysis consumables were cut by an
aggregate amount of 7.45 billion Naira.
health sector such as the upgrade of some tertiary health institutions,
transport and storage of vaccines through the cold chain supply system,
provision of anti-retroviral drugs for persons on treatment, establishment of
chemotherapy centres and procurement of dialysis consumables were cut by an
aggregate amount of 7.45 billion Naira.
e. The provision for security infrastructure in the 104 Unity
Schools across the country were cut by 3 billion Naira at a time when securing
our students against acts of terrorism ought to be a major concern of
government.
Schools across the country were cut by 3 billion Naira at a time when securing
our students against acts of terrorism ought to be a major concern of
government.
f. The provision for the Federal Government’s National Housing
Programme was cut by 8.7 billion Naira.
Programme was cut by 8.7 billion Naira.
g. At a time when we are working with Labour to address
compensation-related issues, a total of 5 billion Naira was cut from the
provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment.
compensation-related issues, a total of 5 billion Naira was cut from the
provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment.
h. The provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special
Economic Zones/Industrial Parks, which are key industrialization initiatives of
this Administration, were cut by a total of 14.5 billion Naira.
Economic Zones/Industrial Parks, which are key industrialization initiatives of
this Administration, were cut by a total of 14.5 billion Naira.
i. The provision for Construction of the Terminal Building at
Enugu Airport was cut from 2 billion Naira to 500 million Naira which will
further delay the completion of this critical project.
Enugu Airport was cut from 2 billion Naira to 500 million Naira which will
further delay the completion of this critical project.
j. The Take-off Grant for the Maritime University in Delta State,
a key strategic initiative of the Federal Government, was cut from 5 billion
Naira to 3.4 billion Naira.
a key strategic initiative of the Federal Government, was cut from 5 billion
Naira to 3.4 billion Naira.
k. About seventy (70) new road projects have been inserted into
the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. In doing so,
the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the
upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote. Regrettably,
however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts
allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly.
the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. In doing so,
the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the
upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote. Regrettably,
however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts
allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly.
The Guardian.
