By Dipo Olowookere
A draft of the 2018 budget estimates has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting held today.
The meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, took place in Abuja and was attended by key members of his government.
Minister of Budget and Planning, Mr Udoma Udoma, who briefed journalists after the meeting at the Presidential Villa, said the budget proposal would be presented to the National Assembly very soon.
This administration is planning to return the country’s budget year to January to December.
It was first thought that the 2018 budget would be presented by the President to the parliament this month, but that seems not to be possible again.
Mr Udoma told newsmen that FEC will collaborate with the National Assembly so as to fix a time the President will present the budget to the lawmakers for approval.
The 2017 budget was only signed into law in the middle of this year by the Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, then as an Acting President after the parliament passed it in May.
Adedapo Adesanya