Buhari signs N17tn 2022 budget into law, laments ‘worrisome changes’
“The driving force is our ability in the two chambers of the National Assembly to work amicably and productively. And then, of course, our ability as a National Assembly to work with the executive arm of government in such a manner that the processing of the budget estimates is done so that both arms participate fully at the appropriate time.
“The ability of the federal government to have this budget passed and signed before the end of the year has made so many states also work towards achieving that. And by today, you would have noticed that more than half of our states would have signed the budget 2022. And that is the kind of leadership that the federal government is giving to the sub nationals.”
On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the House will review the President’s concerns in January.
“We are on vacation now. When we come back on January 18, we will know what’s next,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said the early directive by the President for all MDAs to begin working on the 2023 transition budget will ease operations for the National Assembly.
According to him, “The transition budget Mr President spoke about, as you heard him earlier, they are even going to bring it earlier in 2023, which gives us ample time, more time to work on it, improve on it, and make it a seamless budget with seamless execution and implementation.
“I don’t think I have a problem with the 2023 budget. The 2023 budget is going to come, and we’re going to work on it just like we have been working on the budgets.”
