In response to the wide criticism over the delay in the presentation of the budget by the Federal Government, the new Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has reassured that the finalization of the 2016 Budget is the priority agenda of the Ministry he will be heading.
Speaking Thursday at a brief ceremony marking his resumption of office in Abuja, Udoma reminded the management and staff of the Ministry that Nigerians have become anxious about the future of the nation’s economy, hence the need to expedite action on the preparation of the budget.
“People are waiting for us. We are coming to work; we have no time to waste. We have a budget that has to be finalized. We are coming for action.” he reassured.
Speaking emphatically on the budget, earlier, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab Ahmed stated that: “Starting from now, our budget will be driven with the plan behind it. Each budget area will be linked to a strategic goal that has been predefined by the plan that has been put together.
“The budget is late, already we have been told that the key priority the government needs to face now is put a budget together. Every ministry has been given that directive and we are supposed to drive this process. So we are going to start running not walking from day one.
“It is a lot of work to be done and I am glad that the skills are all here and the plans are in place and we are all ready to work.”
