National Assembly passes N7.441 2017 budget

The National Assembly on Thursday passed the 2017 budget to the tune of N7.441 into law.

Presenting the report to the Senate, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje highlighted that the figure which was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari in December,  2016 as budget of recovery and economic growth was taken into consideration.

“That Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Appropriations on the 2017 Appropriation Bill”,  Goje submitted.

Deputy Senate President,  Ike Ekweremadu was emphatic availability of copies of budget document with details made it unique,  stressing that it made it different from the processes in the past.

“This is the first time that copies of bills was made available with its details and I think there is a difference compared to the past ones.”

He revealed that consultation through public hearing did simplify it,  while asking the approach as it were,  should be sustained.

“There were lot of consultation between the legislature and executive and even the public hearing where civil society organisations were involved made it possible for the consideration.”

“We have moved from budget circle from January to May and hopefully we will move it to January so that budget proposal can be coming in December of every year.”

DSP also commended Nigerians for showing understanding and support during the budget process,  noting that the legislature was aware their curiosity.

Senator George Akume however, decried that his Senatorial flank was not adequately captured in road construction,  saying he will make sure that the 2018 addresses it.

Shehu Sani on his part,  was optimistic that the budget would address socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians.

After various contributions,  the Senate retired to the Committee of the whole to pass the budget.

Meanwhile,  the oil benchmark upon which the budget was structured was 44.5 dollar per barrel on a production of 2.2 million barrels per day.