The Presidency on Thursday appealed to the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the 2018 Budget for the delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made the appeal when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to defend his 2018 Budget proposal.
Mustapha said it has become imperative to ensure that the budget is passed on time to avoid a glitch, especially as the country goes into election next year.
He said: “The 2018 Budget must be passed timely.
“We don’t have time.
“With the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable, basically major politicking will start by February.
“It means that we just have a month to play it with.
“After it, we will be involved in intense politicking.
“Let us expedite the passage of the budget.
“For us to deliver, the budget must be timely passed.
“Promises will not do it during campaigns.
“It is our scorecards.
“Whether you are seeking for senatorial seat or governorship, it is the same.
“Intense political activities will start by February.
“We need to pass the budget so that we can deliver our promises.
“It is to ensure that the people get the good things of life they deserve.
“We went to seek for their mandate and they freely gave it to us.
“The election is about to come.
“We will all return to them and they see all of us as politicians not as members of the executive or legislature.”
The SGF disclosed that his office has developed a mechanism to effectively monitor and evaluate the budget performance and implementation of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Mustapha said his office would also use the mechanism to monitor releases and timeline for the completion of projects.
Speaking on the implementation of 2017 budget, Mustapha told the lawmakers that the fund released to the office of Secretary to the Government of Federation were grossly inadequate to meet some critical responsibilities of the office.
He enumerated some of the specialized programmes that were hindered due to paucity of funds in 2017 to include funding for programmes and activities of presidential aides.
According to the SGF, other activities that suffered paucity of funds were payment of bills of service providers for cleaning and fumigation, gardening, landscaping of Shehu Shagari Complex and maintenance of lifts at Shehu Shagari Complex and Federal Secretariat Complex Phase 1.
He added: “Provision of fund for the activities of standing and ongoing Committees and panels as well as those set up within the fiscal year.
“The impact of the paucity of funds in 2017 on the performance of this office cannot be over-emphasized.”