Jonathan presents 2012 budget to NASS on Tuesday

President Goodluck Jonathan is to present the 2012 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The President gave the indication in a letter written to the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, asking that he be allowed to address a joint session of the National Assembly.

The letter read : ``I crave the kind indulgence of the National Assembly to grant me the slot of 12:00 noon on Tuesday . Dec.13, 2011, to formally address a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2012 budget.

"While I thank the distinguished senators for your steadfast cooperation and understanding, please accept, Senate President, the assurance of my highest cooperation. "

Meanwhile, the Senate agreed to a virement of N31.9 billion for nine Federal Government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) in the 2011 Appropriation Act as approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The Senate also extended the life span of the 2011 budget to March 31, 2012.

The approval and the extension of the budget life span followed the consideration of recommendations presented to the Senate by the Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Sen. Ahmad Maccido (PDP-Sokoto).

Maccido had said that the extension was necessary to enable the affected MDAs to implement some capital projects.

The approved virement for the MDAs is as follows; the Federal Capital Territory Administration N940.7million ; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development N820.7 million; Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development N2.9 billion and the Ministry of Aviation N3.9 billlion.

Others are : the Ministry of Justice N19.6 million; Police Formations and Commands N3.4 billion; Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs N10.9 billion; Public Complaints Commission, N15 million and the Ministry of Defence/Nigerian Army N1 billion.

Also included are : the National Sports Commission N810.7 million; Ministry of Education N538.3 million and the Ministry of Health N6.5 billion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the President had earlier sent a request to the Senate seeking a virement of N98.4 billion in the 2011 Appropriation in respect to the nine MDAs.