PROTOCOLS<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As you are all aware, some weeks ago, the National
\nAssembly passed the 2019 Appropriation Bill which I will be signing into
\nlaw today.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I would like to take this opportunity to thank the
\nleadership of the National Assembly and indeed all the Distinguished and
\nHonourable Members for all the hard work they put in to get us here.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0You will all recall that in December 2018, I
\npresented our 2019 budget proposal with the theme \u201cBudget of
\nContinuity\u201d. Our goal was to use this budget to move the economy
\nfurther on the path of inclusive, diversified and sustainable growth.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Back then, I proposed a total expenditure of N8.83
\ntrillion to the National Assembly for appropriation targeting strategic
\nand impactful projects and initiatives.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0However, the 2019 Budget I will be signing into law
\ntoday provides for aggregate expenditures of N8.92 trillion. This is an
\nincrease of N90.33 billion over our submission.<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This increase reflects changes introduced by the
\nNational Assembly. In some areas, expenses we proposed were reduced
\nwhile in other areas they were increased. There were also certain areas
\nwhere new additions were introduced into the budget. More details of the
\napproved budget will be provided by the Honourable Minister of Budget
\nand National Planning.<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Of course, some of these changes will adversely
\nimpact our programs making it difficult for us to achieve the objectives
\nof the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).<\/p>\n
8.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Although I will be signing this bill, it is my
\nintention to continue to engage the National Assembly to ensure we
\ndeliver on our promises. I will therefore be engaging with the
\nleadership of the ninth National Assembly, as soon as they emerge, to
\naddress some of our concerns with this Budget.<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We will also look at how to improve the budget
\nprocess so that, amongst other things, we can speed up budget
\nconsideration processes and return the country to the January to
\nDecember fiscal year timetable.<\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Minister of
\nBudget and National Planning, Minister of Finance, Budget Office of the
\nFederation, and everyone who collaborated and worked painstakingly to
\nproduce the 2019 Appropriation Bill I am signing today.<\/p>\n
11.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of
\nNigeria.<\/p>\n
PROTOCOLS 1.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As you are all aware, some weeks ago, the National Assembly passed the 2019 Appropriation Bill which I will be signing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n