Senate Postpones Debate On 2018 Budget

The Senate on Tuesday deferred debate on the 2018 Budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to them two weeks ago by another one week.
The Senate had scheduled the debate of the budget for Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
However, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday hinged the reason for the postponement on the need to pass the Medium Term Expenditure Framework before considering the 2018 Budget proposal.
Saraki said the debate on the bill would be on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, adding that the lawmakers will receive documents on revenue and expenditure, budget implementations and others on Tuesday (today).
Saraki said: “28th, that is next week Tuesday, and 29th, that is next Wednesday.
“Reason for that is that we have to pass the MTEF, which we are hoping to relay by tomorrow, to be passed this week.
“Secondly, distribution of documents.
“And I hope you have all received the documents that accompany the 2018 budget.
“The revenue expenditure budget and the Federal Government owned enterprises and agencies.
“The consolidated 2016, implementations report budget for the first quarter and second quarter of the 2017 and also Budget Volume 1 and 2 should be received today.
“This is a departure from the past.
“We intend next week Tuesday and Wednesday to debate the budget and specifically allocate Thursday for the debate on revenue and expenditure of government-owned enterprises and agencies.”