2019 politicking begins February – SGF Mustapha
Secretary the Government the Federation Boss Mustapha yesterday urged the National Assembly to hasten up the passage of the 2018 budget, saying they only have one month to play with before politicking for 2019 begins.
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Speaking when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs for budget defence, the SGF said any further delay would affect the delivery of the campaign promises of the government.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on November 7, last year presented the 2018 budget proposal with an appeal for it quick passage to return the country to January - December fiscal calendar.
But the lawmakers dumped the December 2017 target, saying it was not realistic because of the poor implementation of the capital component of the 2017 budget and lackadaisical attitudes of heads of MDAs towards budget defence.
The SGF said with the release of elections timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), intense politicking for the general elections would commence next month.
“The 2018 budget must be passed timely, we don’t have time. With the release of INEC timetable, basically, major politicking will start by February. It means that we just have a month to play it with. After it, we will involve in intense politicking. Let us expedite the passage of the budget,” he said.
He said Nigerians won’t take promises from them in 2019, pointing out that what Nigerians would be after is performance and scorecard.
Responding, chairman of the committee, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura (APC, Zamfara) assured the SGF that the leadership of the National Assembly was committed to the passage of the budget.