The nation's capital, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed the much-anticipated presentation of the 2025 national budget to the National Assembly.
Initially scheduled the presentation will now take place on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. This decision was confirmed by multiple sources within the government and the National Assembly.
The proposed budget, amounting to ₦47.9 trillion, is a crucial fiscal document that outlines the government's financial strategy and priorities for the upcoming year.
The delay in its presentation has sparked discussions and speculations across various political and economic circles in Nigeria.
A top management official at the National Assembly, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, "The presentation has been postponed, but the reasons for this decision have not been officially communicated yet."
This sentiment was echoed by other officials who noted the absence of the usual preparatory activities that typically precede such a high-profile event.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had previously announced during a plenary session that President Tinubu would present the budget on Tuesday. However, the sudden shift to Wednesday has left many wondering about the underlying factors influencing this change.
Reacting to inquiries after a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Tinubu, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that ongoing discussions might have contributed to the postponement.
He assured the public that the government remains committed to transparent governance and that further details would be provided in due course.
Despite the delay, the Nigerian government has already set a targeted naira exchange rate against the dollar for 2025, as contained in the budget proposal approved by the Federal Executive Council.
Experts have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of this projection, describing it as "very unrealistic."
As Nigerians await the formal unveiling of the 2025 budget, which is expected to shape the country's economic trajectory, the National Assembly has urged the public to rely on official channels for accurate information.
Dr. Ali Umoru, Secretary of Research and Information at the National Assembly, emphasized, "All official communications regarding the National Assembly should come through its authorized channels. We urge media outlets and individuals to verify information before publication."
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