2010 Budget: Jonathan Wants March 2011 Deadline For Implementation

ABUJA, Dec 01, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Jonathan today literarily admitted the slow implementation of the 2010 budget when he appealed to Senators to approve an extension to March 31, 2011 for full implementation of its capital budget. In a letter read on the floor, he told the lawmakers that there have been certain challenges attributable to the delays in adjusting the budget through the 2010 amendment budget, and the uncertainty the amendment process introduced into the spending, procurement and other work plans of MDAs.

The capital budget implementation he nonetheless added has generally improved during the course of the year and as such to improve the ultimate performance ratios, it may be necessary to extend the implementation of the 2010 capital vote to 31 March 2011.

The letter titled “Re- request for Extension of 2010 Capital Budget Implementation to March 2011”, read in part; “..regarding the implementation of the 2010 Budget, there have been certain challenges attributable to the delays in adjusting the budget through the 2010 amendment budget, and the uncertainty this amendment process introduced into the spending, procurement and other work plans of MDAs.

“These challenges have adversely affected the capital utilization and performance of some MDAs to varying degrees. However, capital budget implementation has generally improved during the course of the year. To improve the ultimate performance ratios, it may be necessary to extend the implementation of the 2010 capital vote to 31 March 2011.

“Consequently, I am constrained to approach the National Assembly with this request for the extension of the implementation of the capital budget to 31 March. It is my hope that the National Assembly will, as usual, kindly consider and approve this request expeditiously to facilitate the full implementation of the 2010 capital budget,” President Jonathan said.