President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday present the proposed N19.76 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year to the National Assembly.
This is according to presidential aide Femi Adesina who briefed reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
“It was virtually one item in the Federal Executive Council meeting. The budget proposal for 2023 was presented and discussed at length,” he explained.
“That budget proposal would be taken to the National Assembly on Friday morning by the President.”
He, however, failed to give details of the council’s decision as a “mark of respect for the national assembly”.
Adesina, who also spoke about the hybrid FEC sessions (in-person and online participants), said the move was in line with the country’s COVID-19 guidelines.
“You know you have to follow the protocol as done by the steering committee on COVID-19. The last protocol they announced was that when you are in an open place, you are at liberty to do without your mask, but when you are in an enclosed place, then it is advisable to still use your mask,” Adesina noted.
“The Council Chamber is enclosed. There are, I think 42 ministers by the time 42 ministers congregate there, along with other cabinet office staff, it’s becoming choked.
“Then it may not be advisable to have a full-blown physical meeting yet, but I’m sure we’ll get to that point.”