2018 budget: MDA’s begin preparation

Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Thursday held a retreat to start the 2018 budget proposal process in order to meet the October deadline for the appropriation.

The retreat with the theme “Building Synergy for Effective Implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan” was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, disclosed that the retreat would ensure detailed preparations for 2018 budget.

“MTEF, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, and Fiscal Strategy Paper was passed by the Federal Executive council yesterday (Aug. 9).

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“This means that more detailed preparatory work for the 2018 budget is on.

“So by this retreat, members of cabinet as well as Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies would be looking at the next steps for the 2018 budget preparation.’’

The Minister said that Dr Idris Jala, a former Head of the Delivery Unit in Malaysia took the participants through the Malaysian experience in economic recovery.

He stated that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who addressed the retreat, spoke about the need to ensure full implementation of the economic recovery and growth plan.