Presidency to review 2016 budget for efficiency

Udoma may give breakdown Thursday
The 2016 budget is to be subjected to periodic review to examine target performance and compliance level by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), a Presidency source said yesterday.

The source that spoke with The Guardian under anonymity in Abuja said success of this year’s N6.06trillion budget would depend largely on periodic monitoring of funds and portfolios, to ensure targeted spending.

According to the source, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma is to give a breakdown of short, medium and long term implementation plan of the 2016 budget on Thursday to educate the public on how government hopes to implement the budget despite funding gap.

The source explained that national budgets failed in the past not because there was lack of funds, but because of lack of fiscal discipline and a strong monitoring and evaluation system.

“We believe strongly in the possibility of 100% implementation of the 2016 budget. We are already working towards it. We are going to use strong monitoring and evaluation techniques (M&E) to supervise MDAs. It would no longer be business as usual.

“In the past, budgets were not implemented as passed into law because there were no defined monitoring and evaluation techniques. Budget also requires discipline, which this government is determined to enforce by closely monitoring MDAs across board. Budgets didn’t fail in the past due to lack of funds but because of absence of fiscal discipline. That is why government is paying every attention to monitoring and evaluation.

“The current government believes in probity and strong monitoring processes, a component which was lacking when we had all the money to fund the budget. Now that funds are scarce, the president still believes that 100% implementation is possible through effective monitoring techniques. MDAs know the benchmark and they are expected to stay in line. All things being equal, we believe 100% implementation of 2016 budget is very much possible,” the source said.

Commenting on the role former Senate president Ken Nnamani and former speaker Bello Masari played in ending the budget impasse, the source stated that it was merely to lend advise on the best way for an amicable settlement.