Prof. Park Idisi, a lecturer, Department of Agriculture and Economy, University of Abuja, has advised the Federal Government to reduce dependence on borrowing, to execute the 2018 budget adequately.
Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s N8.612 trillion budget presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja that the Federal Government should aim at balanced budget, instead of borrowing and operating in deficit.
“Federal Government should aim at balanced budget because borrowing is causing devaluation of our currency.”
He said government’s resolve to consolidate on the 2017 budget was a welcome development as it would enable it to complete projects that were not concluded in 2017.
” Consolidating the 2018 budget on 2017 is expected because some of the projects that will not be concluded this year will continue in 2018.
” It is expected that the budget of 2018 should start by March next year,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to drive agriculture and mining sectors vigorously in 2018, as little achievement was recorded in the two sectors this year.
President Buhari had said at the joint session of the assembly in Abuja, that the 2018 budget would consolidate on the previous one.
The 2018 key assumptions include crude oil benchmark at 45 dollaors per barrel; oil production, 2.3 million barrels per day; exchange rate, N305 per one dollar; inflation rate, 12.4 per cent while the GDP is expected to grow by 3.57 per cent.
He put oil revenue projections at N2.44 trillion; non-oil revenue, N4.16 trillion and fiscal deficit, N2.005 trillion.