L
LequteMan
Guest
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the 2014 budget would soon be signed and presented to public after reconciliation of few areas of differences with the National Assembly.
The minister gave the assurance at the post Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.
Maku said that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, briefed the council on the progress of the budget.
He explained that what was delaying the assent of Mr President was the few areas of differences in the budget passed and sent to the government by the National Assembly.
He said the Federal Ministry of Finance was working closely with the National Assembly to reconcile the differences.
"We will do everything possible to reconcile the few differences that emerged in what was transmitted to the government by the National Assembly.
"There are few areas of distortions and they are those areas that are very serious.
"We think there is a need to look into them because of the negative impact those distortions may have on the implementation of the budget.
"There is a lot of conversation going on now between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly on these issues.
"Very shortly, we believe that we are going to reconcile those areas and then the final budget will be announced to the nation by the President," he said.
Maku further assured that though the budget had been delayed for too long, government would ensure its implementation when finally ready.
The minister gave the assurance at the post Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House.
Maku said that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, briefed the council on the progress of the budget.
He explained that what was delaying the assent of Mr President was the few areas of differences in the budget passed and sent to the government by the National Assembly.
He said the Federal Ministry of Finance was working closely with the National Assembly to reconcile the differences.
"We will do everything possible to reconcile the few differences that emerged in what was transmitted to the government by the National Assembly.
"There are few areas of distortions and they are those areas that are very serious.
"We think there is a need to look into them because of the negative impact those distortions may have on the implementation of the budget.
"There is a lot of conversation going on now between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly on these issues.
"Very shortly, we believe that we are going to reconcile those areas and then the final budget will be announced to the nation by the President," he said.
Maku further assured that though the budget had been delayed for too long, government would ensure its implementation when finally ready.
