TheCable

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2021 budget proposal to a joint session of the national assembly next week.

In an address of welcome on Tuesday, Lawan said a report by the joint committee on finance and national planning on the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) will be considered and passed.

“Also worthy of our commendation is the engagement of our Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTF/FSP) during the Recess,” the senate president said.

“The committee interacted with over 300 MDAs over the issues of Revenue Generation and Remittances to the Federal Government.

“The joint committee will present its report to the senate today for consideration. This is a precursor to the presentation of the 2021 Budget Estimates by the Executive Arm of Government soon.

“I am aware that the executive will be presenting the 2021 Budget Estimates by next week.”

Lawan said lawmakers must ensure that the revised 2020 budget is properly implemented.

“The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted our budgetary plans, requiring the review of the 2020 Budget. We must carry out oversights to ensure that the revised 2020 Budget is properly implemented,” he said.

“The oversights are even more imperative as the Revised 2020 Budget is targeted at addressing the specific challenges occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic.

“The senate needs to pay particular attention to the implementation of the Federal Government Economic Sustainability Plan.

“This strategic Plan is an essential means of revamping our economy, as it provides interventions in the Mass Agricultural Programme, Infrastructure, Mass Housing Programme, Investments in Healthcare Infrastructure, amongst others.”

The federal executive council (FEC) had approved the sum of N12.6 trillion for 2021.