THE Presidency, on Friday, said that the 2017 appropriation bill would be submitted to the National Assembly on time in order to effect its early implementation.
The Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, stated that the process had started with the laying of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy paper at the National Assembly.
Enang while addressing newsmen said, “For the 2017 budget, you will agree that the process starts with the laying of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper. Mr. President has submitted that to the National Assembly –Senate and House of Representatives – and they are considering it.”
On the budget estimates, he disclosed that “what is approved by the National Assembly-the parameters such as the exchange rate, oil price benchmark, volume of the budget, borrowing plan and other parameters that are contained therein that may be approved or as may be approved by the National Assembly will be used in concluding the budget estimates.”
While assuring that the implementation of the 2016 budget is in progress, Enang added that the 2017 budget will be presented very early so that its implementation can start by 1st of January, 2017.
“That is the expectation of the Executive and that is what Mr. President, the Vice President and the ministers are working towards. Therefore, I want us to relax and be assured that all will be done within time. Definitely, we are working together with the legislature,” he said.