In a statement through his Media Adviser, Mr. James Akpandem, the minister said while he conceded in the interview that the late approval might constrain full implementation, the Federal Government, according to him, intended to still try its best to achieve 100 per cent implementation.
“The Federal Government aims and will be working to achieve 100 per cent implementation of the 2016 budget in spite of the late signing of the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
“This clarification becomes necessary to clear the misrepresentation by some newspapers that full implementation of the budget has been ruled out because of the late start.
“Responding to a question from State House correspondents who sought to find out whether, given the late approval of the dudget, it would still be possible to achieve 100 per cent implementation, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, conceded that the late approval might constrain full implementation. Nevertheless, the Federal Government intends to still try its best to achieve 100 per cent implementation.
“At no time did the minister rule out the possibility of full implementation as indicated by one or two newspapers.”
Meanwhile, the planned release of the N350bn by the Federal Government for capital projects that was intended to stimulate economic activities may be delayed by procurement processes, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.
It would be recalled that the minister shortly after President Buhari signed the budget on Friday told State House correspondents that although it was the aim of the government to achieve 100% implementation; the reality was that it might not achieve the aim because it started late.