Encomium
‘It’s frustrating businesses’
Months after the 2014 budget was transmitted to the National Assembly where it was passed, President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to sign it into law.
Considering the fact that we are in May already, entrepreneurs are now worried about the situation. Here are their views…
MR. LATIN – It’s not a good thing for the federal government not to have passed 2014 budget into law. It doesn’t speak well for a growing economy like ours. People need to know the direction of activities on time, so that they can plan for their various businesses.
Almost every entrepreneur waits to know the content of government’s budget for the year before delving into any transaction. Besides, not everything we use in this country is extracted here. Some are imported. In that case, we will like to know if your business is going to be affected by government’s disposition to such things. So, we need to be aware of government’s plan early.
CHIME WAYNE BROWN, Urbane Properties – I was surprised when on Thursday, May 15, 2014, the Minister of Information and National Orientation unashamedly said they are yet to sign this year’s budget because of some differences between the original draft and what the National Assembly returned to the Presidency. And that is quite unfortunate. As far as I am concerned, the economy would be in standstill until the Appropriation Bill is finally passed into law.
This is not good for our economy at all. Something should be done to address this issue squarely.
BANKE ADEWUNMI, Glitters and Glamour – I wonder why the budget is yet to be passed. We’re in the second quarter of the fiscal year already, yet we don’t know anything about government’s plan for the country. How do you now expect those of us who are directly or indirectly affected by the budget to carry out our economic activities for the year?
It’s really affecting our business plans because most of us depend largely on those that are directly affected by federal government’s budget. At the moment, patronage is low everywhere. People are being mindful of the way they spend because they are still in the dark as regards government’s plan for the country. It’s not a good thing at all.
INOX BRADFORD, Guest Profile Ltd. – It is a major setback that has to be treated with the seriousness it deserves. Of course, the fact that the budget is yet to be passed affects business because nobody knows government policy and the impact it would make on business.
HELEN MADUKWE – It is so sad that by mid-May, we are still talking about the year’s budget. I agree the Chibok girls have been a huge distraction since last month, but they have been handling such important matter with kids’ gloves. I thought assenting by the President is supposed to be done within 50 days?
