President Bola Tinubu will present to the joint sessions of the Senate and House of Representatives, the nation’s 2024 budget of N26.01 trillion before the end of 2023.
The budget, according to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, October 16, is based on oil price benchmark of $73.96 and 21 per cent interest rate.
He said that the budget would be presented to the National assembly before the end of the year since President Bola Tinubu is already engaging with the legislative arm towards getting their buy-in.
He said that the budget is expected to consolidate on the various economic reforms initiated by the present administration aimed at improving the standard of living of Nigerians and attracting investors.
Bagudu said that assumption of the budget is based on the various diplomatic engagements by the president and other government functionaries that are expected to improve inflow and boost exchange rate.
This was even as the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi said that FEC approved the use of concrete for road projects across the country, including those of new ones, depending on the level of completion.
“FEC was also informed on the on-going projects and to mitigate so much inflation and variation of the projects, to have some of the projects that have attended completion to be redesigned on concrete and going forward for new projects to be done on concrete.
‘’FEC approved that concept that most of the on-going projects should be designed on concrete pavements depending on the level of completion and if you’re doing Asphalt there are also conditions for that.
‘’FEC also approved the coastal road running from Phase 1 which runs from Lagos to Port Harcourt to Calabar. Phase 2 runs from S4 tearing off from this stretch to Sokoto and to Ogoja.
“It was approved to be done on Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing.
‘’Eight roads that were started in the past administration for concessioning that have gone through all the processes were also approved and that the financial closure should be reached November.’’
Umahi said that a 24-hour approval would be given to any state interested in taking over road projects in their domain, while particular conditions must be met for the agreement to take effect.
He said that the project by the states must conform to the standard of the Federal Ministry of Works as well as meet the tolling system through which they would recoup their investment.
The minister said that FEC approved the NNPC and FIRS road projects, which they oversee and fund across the country.
Source: NAN
