Preparations for 2018 budget could be underway.

The process anchored by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Senator UDO UDOMA is to ensure that the 2018 budget aligns with the provisions of the ERGP and is ready for presentation to the National Assembly by early October this year.

OSINBAJO and Senator UDOMA while addressing ministers, permanent secretaries and head of government agencies, stressed the need to revive the budget preparation process and ensure that the 2018 and subsequent national budgets were ready for implementation by January of each fiscal year.

Senator UDOMA said personnel budget call circular had been issued to those concerned since April and that work had already commenced on the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper.

According to him, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 prescribes certain deadlines for budget-related activities, which the government must endeavour to comply with.

The Acting President expressed disappointment over the inability of the National Assembly to pass the 2017 budget on time despite the fact that it was sent by the Executive to the lawmakers in December last year.

He also faulted the insertion of new projects into the budget by the National Assembly, noting that this had left a lot of unanswered questions.