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Buhari issues Friday deadline to MDAs to defend budget before N’Assembly

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Executive, legislature face-off: Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara

President Muhammadu Buhari has given ministries, department and agencies till Friday to submit details of their budget estimates to the National Assembly.

This is coming five days after the president hosted National Assembly leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The submission of the budget estimate is in accordance of section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007.

According to Lawrence Ojabo, director of information in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the directive was conveyed in a circular on Monday.

Ojabo said the SGF directed the agencies to comply with the provisions of the law and honour invitation to defend their estimate in a timely manner.

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While addressing reporters at the end of the meeting the president had with lawmakers, the SGF said the directive for MDAs to appear before the National Assembly was to fast-track the passage of the budget.

“Mr President has given instructions that all ministries and parastatals should ensure that they appear before the national assembly to defend their submissions so that we can get this out of the way,” he had said.

“This is a very dynamic year, there are preparations for elections and we are having quite a number of security challenges. And so if we do not appropriate, where will the money come from to be able to prosecute some of the assignments the federal government has in the appropriation of 2018.

“So this is a very good meeting; we intend to build on it. It is a confidence-building mechanism and it is an interface that would definitely get a new dimension of the governance of this country for the betterment of the people of Nigeria.”

 

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