Halfway into the year and three months before the 2014 budget is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for deliberation, the lawmakers and the Presidency are still squabbling over the 2013 budget.
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President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, sent the third 2013 Budget Amendment to the Senate. The senators, however, say this will not be considered until September.
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President Jonathan sent the budget amendment on a day both the Senate and the House of Representatives frowned at comments attributed to the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the dangers of the National Assembly not passing this year's budget by September. The lawmakers accused Jonathan of reneging on an earlier agreement that should he sign the 2013 budget, legislators will approve an immediate follow-up amendment he would send to lawmakers.