The National Assembly on Tuesday said it has extended implementation of the 2017 budget till May 3, following delay in passage of the 2018 budget. Chairman of the House committee on Appropriation, Mustapha Bala Dawaki stated this during a public hearing on the 2018 budget organised by the National Assembly joint committee on appropriation.
According to Dailytrust, the public hearing which was declared open by Senate President Bukola Saraki was attended by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. Hon. Mustapha said a letter had already been written to the Accountant General of the Federation on the extension.
“We were told that the office of the Accountant General is expected to close the account by March ending. We have written a letter yesterday (Monday) drawing his attention to the fact that the budget should be extended to May 31, this year.
But if the passage of the budget as at April 24 is done and gets the president’s assent, whichever comes earlier, then the Accountant General should also strictly adhere to the contents of the letter. “Contractors should continue working, budget account will not be closed until budget is passed and accepted by the President or until May 31,” he said.
