President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday described the late passage of federal budgets as undesirable to sustained efforts to enhance the nation’s fiscal system and by implication, the attainment of the socio-economic goals enunciated in the budgets.
The President , who expressed his views on the fiscal challenge when he received a delegation of Eminent and Respected citizens of Niger State led by retired Lt. Gen. Garba Duba at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, lamented that sometimes, budgets were not passed earlier than seven months into a fiscal year thereby frustrating governments’ efforts to achieve the capital budget targets.
While charging the National and State Legislatures on the need to speed up the process deliberations on Appropriation Bills, Buhari said that this step had become imperative for the benefits of the budgets to get to the citizenry.
He said: “If the National Assembly takes seven months to pass a budget, then we should be commended for the much that we have achieved, and can still achieve.
“I personally feel very disappointed. I spoke with the leaders of the National Assembly on the issue that seven months is a long time to work on a budget”, the President stressed.
Buhari explained further that his administration’s ongoing efforts to improve road, and rail networks across the country would be increased if the budgets were passed early as infrastructure development remains paramount for improving the livelihood of Nigerians.
The president re-assured the delegation that his administration would stay focused on securing lives and property, fighting corruption and stimulating economic activities in order to sustain the nation’s economic growth..
He told the delegation that the Minister of Agriculture and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase monetary supports through loans to farmers in the next farming season, adding that the two officials have been advised to ensure that “farmers are not overwhelmed with the traditional demand for collaterals.’’
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, who is a former military governor, commended the President for the significant strides made by his administratio in repositioning of roads, rails and airports across the country.
While pointing out that Niger State still faced challenges of security along Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna roads, Duba appealed to the President to reinforce surveillance on the routes and to also direct more attention on the construction of federal roads in the state.
In his remarks, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who is also the Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, commended the President for providing exemplary leadership for the country, particularly now that moral virtues had become low among the people.
