President to present 2017 budget on December 14

President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2017 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.

Buhari made the disclosure in a letter written to the Assembly and read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, December 6, during the Senate plenary session.

Saraki had earlier assured Nigerians that the new budget would be passed sooner than the 2016 budget.

“We are ready. Once the document comes to us, we are ready,” the Senate President said after a meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, December 1.

“I think this time around, a lot of work has taken place behind the scene. There is a lot of more collaboration and you will see the result of that in the time frame it will take after the president will have presented it.

“I am sure that very soon, that matter will be concluded. But I am very optimistic that this year’s budget will be passed much more sooner than what we saw in the past....I am sure within the next 10 days, it will be presented,” he added.

Saraki also promised that the passing of the 2017 budget would not be as controversial as the process surrounding the 2016 budget.

ALSO READ: FEC approves 2017 Appropriation Bill

The 2016 budget attracted controversy due to bloated figures and claims by some legislators that the document initially submitted to the National Assembly disappeared.