Lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday said the N8.612 trillion 2018 budget proposal presented by President Muhammadu Buhari before the Joint Session of the National Assembly would accelerate development in the country.
The lawmakers, in separate interviews, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that
the National Assembly should scrutinise the budget and pass same before January 2018.
According to them, the budget proposal is ambitious and shows that the President wants to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy said “the
budget is a positive sign of accelerated development that the President has embarked upon.
“Government business is getting more assiduous, purpose-driven and focused. I think the President is realising that time is no more on his side and he is eager to impact on the citizenry.
“The President cannot wait anymore; he cannot delay any further to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. I think the President in on course.”
Braimoh, representing Kosofe Constituency II at the Assembly, noted that the timing of budget presentation showed that Buhari wanted to bring time to his advantage “because the time is so short now to the next election.
“I congratulate the President for this; he is a good leader who adjusts according to the speed of time. The President wants to accelerate, having watched the mood of the citizenry.’’
Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, said that the budget would consolidate on various giant strides of Buhari-led administration to rebuild the economy.
Olulade, who urged Nigerians to be patient with the President as he worked to cover grounds, said “better days ahead for the masses’’.
On his part, Mr Jude Idimogu, representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II at the Assembly,
said it would take some time before Nigerians could begin to reap the benefits of some of the policies of Buhari.
The lawmaker, who also urged the NASS to sacrifice their holidays to pass the budget by December ending, said Nigerians were expecting succour through the budget.
He added that “this is a good development; I just hope that the National Assembly will work on it on time. I think the budget should be for consolidation, having passed through difficult moments as a nation.
“Buhari is on course with the figures now that the economic indices smile at us as a nation with increased oil price. All things being equal, Nigerians will smile.”
Buhari on Tuesday presented an appropriation of N8.612 trillion for 2018, saying that the budget would deliver on Nigeria’s economic recovery growth.