Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja

The Federal Government on Thursday said it would send the 2018 budget to the National Assembly at the beginning of October this year.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udo Udoma disclosed this in Abuja during a public dialogue with top government officials, members of Civil Societies Organisation, and the Organised Private Sector among others on the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

He said the decision to submit the 2018 budget early was in line with provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007.

He said the early submission of the budget to the lawmakers would give them enough time to consider the fiscal document and pass it on time.

The minister said the overall goal of the government is to ensure that the country returns to a predictable budget year which would run from January to December.

Details later…