The National Assembly expects President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit the 2020 budget estimates to the Legislature for consideration and approval, Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with the President in Abuja on Friday, he said the Legislature was intent on returning the budget circle to January-December.
The Speaker disclosed that it was one of the issues he discussed with the President.
He, however, said he could not give a definite date on when the National Assembly might receive the budget. Gbajabiamila said, “we discussed the issue of the budget. As you are aware, we want to bring the budget circle back to what it used to be, January to December and the only way to do that is for an early presentation of the budget and we have discussed that and we are working towards that.
“We discussed security issues and the issue of the recent $9 billion award against Nigeria. I say that with a smile but not really smiling. Clearly we are in opposition to that and steps would be taken.”
“I cannot give a definite answer but I know the budget is going to come as early as possible. It may be the end of this month or shortly thereafter, but I cannot give you any definite date. But it’s going to be an early presentation so that we can pass the budget before the end of the year and return to the January to December circle,” he said.
