President Buhari to present bill to NASS next week

President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to the National Assembly to notify lawmakers that he will present the 2018 Appropriation Bill before the two chambers on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

According to the letter, which was read on the floor of the House of Representatives by Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday, November 2, the president will present the budget at a joint parliamentary session by 2 pm.

The letter read, "Pursuant to Section 81 of the 1999 constitution, may I crave the kind indulgence of the National Assembly to grant me the slot of 1400hrs on Tuesday, 7th November 2017 to formally address a joint session and lay before the National Assembly the 2018 budget proposal.

"Please extend, Mr Speaker, the assurances of my highest regards to the Honourable members as I look forward to addressing the joint session."

The proposal was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday, October 26 as Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, revealed without disclosing any specific detail.

The Federal Government had severally promised to present the bill to the National Assembly in October to restore the budget calendar from January through to December.

The 2017 bill was not passed into law until June this year, when Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo signed the N7.44 trillion Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth.

ALSO READ: FG to present N7.9 trillion 2018 Budget to NASS in October

In July, Udoma revealed that the 2018 appropriation bill will be around N7.9 trillion but there have been other reports stating that the proposed amount is N8.6 trillion, a 15 percent increase from the 2017 budget.