TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived at the national assembly to present the 2020 appropriation bill.

The president is expected to present a budget proposal of about N10.73 trillion to a joint session of the national assembly.

The senate adjourned its plenary session to join the house of representatives in the expanded session.

Some state governors and ministers accompanied the president to the complex.

In his remarks, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the national assembly is committed to passing the budget before the end of 2019.

He said all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) must defend their budget estimates before the relevant committees in October.

Last Thursday, Adedayo Adeyeye, senate spokesman, warned against usual delays purportedly caused by the MDAs, but expressed optimism that the budget implementation will take place between January and December.

“All MDAs will have to suspend what they are doing to defend their budget once the budget has been presented,” he said.

If the budget is passed before the end of 2019, this means Nigeria will now return to a budget cycle that runs from January to December.