2017 Budget May be Ready After Easter—Reps

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrasak Namdaz, has disclosed that the 2017 appropriation bill would most likely be ready after the end of the Easter break.

“Hopefully, we will pass this (2017) budget when we come back from the Easter break. Even the Federal Government is taking advantage of the non-passage of the 2017 Budget,” Mr Namdaz stated at a press conference in Abuja.

At the news briefing on Thursday, the lawmaker stated that the N7.3 trillion appropriation bill, christened ‘Budget of Recovery and Growth’, would be given proper vetting by the lower legislative arm of the National Assembly.

“You were in the plenary today when the Minister of Budget and National Planning said if they’re able to reconcile some figures, they are likely to approach us (for inclusion in the budget).

“And I want to assure you that they will approach, this is the House of the people, we will certain be on the side of the people and see how we can include whatever they want to bring.

“But in any case, that will not stop us from passing the budget. But that will, by the special grace of God, be when we return from the Easter break,” he told newsmen.

The Easter break is expected to begin on April 14 and last through 17.

The 2017 budget was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to a joint session of the National Assembly in December 2016.