Fresh contracts delay 2017 budget

Contracts for new road projects recently awarded by the Federal Government is delaying the National Assembly from passing the 2017 budget proposal submitted to it on December 14, 2016.

Confirming this at the National Assembly yesterday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya, who however hinted that the 2017 Appropriation Act would be ready by the end of April, declared that the delay in passing the 2017 Appropriation Act was because of some projects recently approved by the Federal Executive Council and included in the budget proposal.

He said: “From the works committee where I am the chairman, the Federal Government is still awarding contracts of 2016, and those projects of 2016 were not reflected in the 2017 budget. So, we had to wait to get as many projects as possible being approved or awarded by the Executive Council and then we can find funds or deductions from some areas to fund those new projects that are about 34 in number.

They were never reflected in the 2017 budget now being considered. “I believe before the end of the month, the 2017 budget would be ready, that I can assure you,” he stated.