Why FG is Yet to Release the 2016 Budget to the Public

Why FG is Yet to Release the 2016 Budget to the Public

A number of active citizens have in the last one week, using various media platforms, lamented the failure of the federal government to release the details of the 2016 Appropriation Act (budget) recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Many have asserted that the refusal to release the details of the budget implies an unwillingness on the side of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government to promote the virtue of transparency which it promised during the presidential campaign in 2015.

The federal government, perhaps in an initial response to the criticisms, last Thursday organised what it called a “public presentation” of the 2016 budget. At the session, minister for budget and national planning, Sen Udoma Udo Udoma made a presentation of the major objectives of the budget and discussed plans for implementation and monitoring.

Minister of Budget & National Planning, Sen Udoma Udo Udoma presenting the 2016 budget details, at the State House pic.twitter.com/KUQE7ryraS

— Aso Rock (@AsoRock) May 12, 2016

We are encouraging our Ministers to explore concessioning arrangements for airports and other infrastructure projects – Udoma #BudgetNG2016

— National Planning NG (@PlanningNG) May 12, 2016

Other ministers present at the presentation included power, works and housing minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola; minister for mines and solid minerals, Mr Kayode Fayemi; finance minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; transport minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and minister of state for budget and national planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed who made a presentation on the N500 billion social investment programme included in the budget.

Minister of State Budget Zainab Ahmed takes the stage to talk about the N500bn Social Investment Programme in #BudgetNG2016

— Aso Rock (@AsoRock) May 12, 2016

On Monday, the presidency stated that the delay in releasing the full details of the 2016 budget to the public is because it is now an Act of the National Assembly that needs to be included in the national gazette before it can be made publicly accessible.

Q: When will 2016 budget be available online?

A: As soon as due process is completed (see Acts Authentication Act) pic.twitter.com/zikhcy4E5V

— Aso Rock (@AsoRock) May 16, 2016

 

The presidency equally cited the enabling law according to which it is purportedly withholding the details of the 2016 budget until the gazetting process is concluded. It however promised to make the budget details public as soon as the process is concluded.

The budget is an Appropriation Act, passed by NASS, & assented to by the President. It requires 'gazetting' by NASS Clerk, like other Acts

— Aso Rock (@AsoRock) May 16, 2016

When this process is completed, the full text of the budget document will be made available to the public.

— Aso Rock (@AsoRock) May 16, 2016