FG CRIES OUT: 2018 Budget may fail if…

The federal government, yesterday, declared that the implementation of the N8.612trillion 2018 Budget will face challenges if not speedily passed by the National Assembly.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, dropped the hint while briefing journalists shortly after a budget defence before the Senate Committee of Federal Character, at the National Assembly, Abuja. He hinged his position on 2019 being the electioneering year, with politicians getting set for campaign.

“The 2018 Budget proposals need to be expeditiously considered and passed by the National Assembly this January as requested by the President, so as to have ample time to implement it before politics sets in. “Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had directed that preparation for the 2019 general elections should commence in July this year. Therefore, politicians, particularly in the executive arm of government, would be politically engaged, which would no doubt have its tollon governance driven by budget implementation.

“I will make an appeal that the 2018 Budget be passed on time. We do not have time. If you consider the time left for us as politicians, and in line with the timetable released by INEC, you will realise that we have till November 2018 to do what we have to do.

“By then, politicians will be engaged in political activities.

There will be no time. I am appealing that we pass this budget on time. This is the last budget we will have to deliver on the dividends of democracy.

For those of you coming back, promises will not work. What will work willbe the scorecard. “The surest way out of preventing serious hiccups in budget implementation this year is for it to be passed into law as soon as possible,” Mustapha emphasized

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