‘Initially, it looked impossible’ — Lawan speaks on Jan-Dec budget cycle

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says initially, the January-December budget cycle looked impossible.

He said this while speaking with reporters after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the 2020 appropriation bill into law.

The senate president expressed optimism that the government would get the needed revenue to fund the budget.

“I take this opportunity to thank distinguished members of the National Assembly who committed and engaged themselves in working on the budget 2020. Initially it looked like it was impossible, in fact many didn’t believe it was possible to work on this budget and produce it before Christmas break,” he said.

“But the members of the National Assembly decided consciously and patriotically to work on the budget day and night, in fact National Assembly became a beehive of activities more than anywhere else in Abuja. And we were able to by the grace of God finish all the processes and of course pass the budget in record time.

“I also want to commend Nigerians for praying for us that we should achieve this. Because, everybody understands the implication of having a budget that is predictable, a budget that starts from January through the 12 calendar months to December, that tells you our economy is going to receive a boost, an injection that will see more businesses, employment opportunities and of course we hope that our teaming unemployed youths will now have opportunities to be gainfully employed.

“So we are optimistic that the economy will receive a boost from this 2020 budget implementation by the grace of God. I believe we are on the right path.

Lawan also appreciated Buhari for ensuring that his ministers defended their budgets at the right time, adding that “for the first time we have almost every minister, head of an agency visited the national assembly to defend the budget of his or her ministry.”