Wednesday 13 February 2013

Jonathan Can’t Sign 2013 Budget This Week – Okonjo-Iweala

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has denied media reports stating that President Goodluck Jonathan is likely to sign the 2013 budget into law this week.

In a press statement signed by her Special Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu, the Minister said, “whereas discussions between the Executive and the National Assembly are on-going in a cordial atmosphere, it is not yet clear when they will be concluded as much work remains to be done.
“Against this background, reports stating that the President will sign the budget this week are therefore not realistic.”
A local newspaper had reportedly quoted Mrs Okonjo Iweala as saying “We are working very well on the budget and we hope that within a week, we would be able to come to some kind of agreement. But I can’t say exactly.
“What we are finding now is that there are some grey or problematic areas that we need to iron out between us, in order for us to have a budget that is in the interest of the Nigerian people and that can be implemented and both sides would be satisfied.”
The Federal Government had presented N4.92 trillion on September 19, 2012 as the proposed 2013 budget to the National Assembly but the lawmakers in the twin Chambers passed N4.987 trillion on October 4, 2012, causing a disagreement between the two arms of government.

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