President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with a joint session of the National Assembly for the presentation of the 2018 budget, a constitutional requirement in Nigeria.
Ahead of the president’s arrival, the House of Representatives is reportedly engaged in a closed-door session
The meeting of the lawmakers followed an earlier secret session held by members of the Senate and presided over by Bukola Saraki with issues including the planned scuttling of the budget presentation dominating discussion, according to Daily Sun.
Buhari is expected to present the budget by 2pm
Reports say some members of the House of Representatives are not happy with the executive arm of government over the alleged non-release of funds for their constituency projects.
Buhari’s letter informing the House of his intention to present the budget had earlier resulted in a rowdy session when it was read at plenary.
3.49pm: The joint session recites the national anthem to signify the closing of the event.
3.46pm: Hon Garba Mohammed gives closing Muslim prayers while Senator Barnabas Gemade presents the Christian closing prayer.
3.44: Dogara thanks Buhari for moving Nigeria out of recession. He however laments that despite this status, many of the citizens still live in poverty which must be tackled.
3.41pm: Dogara pleads with the executive arm of government to run the government adding the legislators in the scheme of things.
3.35pm: Speaker Yakubu Dogara gives votes of thanks. He thank president Buhari for the way he is handling the economy of the country. He says it is unprecented to have Boss Mustapha, the new SGF visit the leadership of the National Assembly.
3.33pm: Buhari is hailed as he hands the budget over to the leadership of the joint session.
3.31pm: Buhari finally lays the budget of N8.6 trillion to the joint session. The budget is projected at an oil price of $45 per barrel and an estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day. He adds that the budget is further projected on an exchange rate of N305 to $1, a real Gross Domestic Growth of 3.5 per cent and inflation rate of 12.4 per cent.
3.25pm: The Niger Delta Amnesty programme is sustained in the 2018 budget as President Buhari says all projects in the region would be completed. He says attention is being given to the northeast ravaged by insurgency as well as other areas where cattle rustlers operate.
3.23pm: "We are truly interested in catering for the vulnerable," Buhari says adding that the government would continue with the school feeding programme as it creates jobs and supports small business. He christenes it 'Budget of Consolidation'.
3.18pm: Buhari says overhead cost is projected at 12 percent increase from the previous. He says with this, the government is investing in critical infrastructure to create jobs. Power, Works and Housing will get N55.8 billion. Education gets N61.7 billion. Niger Delta gets N71.2 billion. "We shall complete all ongoing projects."
3.13pm: Part of the 2018 budget is to be financed through privatisation of non-oil government assets. Oil revenue for 2018 projected at N2.442 trillion oil revenue.
3.07pm: Buhari says the 2018 budget is based on the inflation rate of 12.5 percent. N2.22 trillion is projected as revenue from oil in 2018.
3.05pm: Buhari causes mild drama when he says: "I would like to inform Nigerians that the whistle blowers line is till open." He adds that he has giving instructions for further actions.
3.02pm: Buhari reviews the 2017 budget and its challenges.
2.58pm: Buhari noted that 2017 witnessed various disease outbreaks including monkeypox. He thanks those in the health sector for taking urgent actions. He also commends international community for assistance. He says the government would remain focus and pleads with the National Assembly in this regard.
2.54pm: Buhari notes that the agric sector holds a lot of advantages to Nigeria. He says his government would consolidate on existing policies and come up with new ones to ensure that the sector becomes very strong. He says his government would ensure food security and deal with anyone trying to sabotage the effort.
2.51pm: The president says the country recently received two locomotive trains to ease transportation along the Abuja-Kaduna axis. He adds that rail contracts had been awarded in the southern part of the country and that he hopes that his administration would commission it in 2018. "Sometimes, doing the right thing takes time," he says as he pleads with Nigerians for support.
2.48pm: Buhari mentions the challenge Nigerians are facing with the power sector and gives reasons why the situation persists. He also informs of what the government is doing to meet the challenges. He pleads with the citizens to bear with the government.
2.41pm: The president says his government inherited a huge debt in the area of infrastructure. while payments had been made in some areas, the government is looking at the others. He says so far, over 766 kilometers of roads had been handled as at 2017 and these cut across the country. He lists the roads.
2.40pm: The president says 13.8 percent of the total budget is allocated to infrastructure, a decision his government had taken since its emergence. He also talks about how his government is able to weed out ghost workers.
2.37pm: Buhari says Nigeria's tax to GDP level is one of the lowest in the world at 6 percent. He reveals what his government is doing to change this anomaly.
2.34pm: Buhari says external reserves had grown to $34 billion. This is part of his efforts to shore up the country's economy. He also speaks on how his government reversed the trend of its pathetic state in the 'Ease of Doing Business' report. He expresses delight concerning this.
2.31pm: Buhari says despite the downturn in oil prices, the government implemented projects of over N1.2 trillion which is unprecedented. He said despite record low oil prices, the Sovereign Wealth Fund had been upgraded whereas this was not so in the last four years when oil price was above $100 per barrel.
2.29pm: He says the government is serious with the clean-up of Ogoni. He says the clean-up would be funded by international oil companies but that there is provision in the budget for oversight.
2.27pm: The president pleads with the National Assembly to continue to support his works. He says work is going in Ondo state to explore the bitumen to better the country. He thanked the leadership of the Niger Delta for their support promising to remain committed to his promise. "We must all come together to resolve grievances through discussions and engagements," he says.
2.23pm: Buhari says the 2018 budget will consolidate on previous budgets. He says 2017 budget was one of uncertainty. He says his belief has always been the quickest solution may not be the best solution to issues.
2.22pm: Buhari commences his address. He recognises Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the leadership of the National Assembly as well as APC chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.
2.21pm: Saraki assures Buhari that the National Assembly will work with the team of the executive arm to ensure the budget is passed as well as implement it.
2.19pm: Saraki says each Nigerian wants to be part of the country's economy adding that people must be able to feel this in various communities and not just the city centres alone.
2.17: Saraki warns against unnecessary borrowing saying such must be targeted at physical infrastructure and developmental agenda. He talked about the fear among students graduating in the country as there are no jobs. He pleads with the president to look at this area.
2.15pm: Saraki says the country cannot afford another recession. "We all must make sure that the budget is passed as early as possible." He warns agencies that would delay defending their budgets saying they would be sanctioned.
2.13pm: Senate President Saraki welcomes Buhari to the joint session of the National Assembly. He expresses excitement that the president is at the National Assembly in person. He commends the national economic team. "We must work together to steer the ship of this country...we must grow our economy."
2.11pm: A Muslim cleric takes the Islamic prayer session.
2.10pm: There is a mild drama as the man asked to open the Christian prayer session is taking too long. A clamour of 'amen' fills the air, an indirect call on him to end the prayer.
2.04pm: Buhari arrives National Assembly for the presentation of the budget. The national anthem being rendered. The president arrived with members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), serving and past governors and top politicians.
2.01pm: The Senate has approved a motion to receive President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
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Source: Naija.ng
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