FG Not Implementing Padded Budget – Udoma

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udo Udoma, on Tuesday said the Federal Government is not implementing padded budget.

He spoke at a Town Hall meeting organized by the Alumni Association of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (AANI) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in Abuja.

Udoma maintained that the budget signed by President Muhammadu Buhari was well scrutinized and passed the due process in the National Assembly before it was signed into law in May.

He said, ‘‘We did not assent padded budget. The budget followed through the various stages of preparation and scrutiny and appropriation before it was signed into law.’’

The minister said the 2017 Budget would be submitted to the National Assembly in October.

He said necessary consultations and framework for the 2017 budget are ongoing.

Udoma pointed out that early preparation and submission of the budget to the National Assembly would ensure the inclusion of every detail in the budget.