Budget: 2016 Projects Would Not Be Abandoned- FG

By Oladapo Okeowo

The executive and legislative arms of government have agreed that no project from 2016 would be abandoned.

In a meeting called by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to resolve issues with the passage of the 2017 budget, the presidency, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House agreed to ensure the completion of 2016 projects.

The meeting also was used to smoothen relations between both arms after the legislators expressed their displeasure at the failure of some CEOs and ministers to come for their budget defence.

Also present were the Chairmen of the appropriation committees of both chambers, minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, her counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, and the Director-General of Budget Office.

The two arms of government resolved that none of the projects started in 2016 as captured in last year’s budget must be abandoned in 2017 but must be well funded.

With this decision, the scheduled repair of the tarmac of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the ongoing reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Lokoja-Abuja expressway, the rail projects in different parts of the country, among others, will not be stopped nor abandoned till they are completed.