In a speech lasting one hour and five minutes, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday announced the proposed budget for 2018 which has been themed “budget of consolidation”.
According to him, the budget will consolidate on "the achievements of previous budgets", and hopefully should further help Nigeria recover from their first recession in 25 years.
But why bother to name annual budgets?
According to Kenneth Erikume, partner at PwC Nigeria, a global tax and advisory company, naming budgets is unique to Nigeria.The names originate from the executive, and are usually a reflection of the government’s plan.
President Muhammadu Buhari presents the 2018 National budget to the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria November 7, 2017
Mr Erikume says the reason "consolidation" is used now is probably because, with just one more year before 2019's election, Mr Buhari's government is looking to consolidate all the efforts made since 2015 – when it came into power – in bringing the country out of recession.
Naming national budgets is not a new thing in Nigeria. Here are their six previous budget Names:
2018: Budget of Consolidation
2017: Budget of Recovery and Growth
2016: Budget of Change
2015: Transition Budget & Hope
2014: Budget for Job Creation and Inclusive Growth
2013: Budget of fiscal Consolidation with Inclusive Growth
At the end of the day, these names do not really matter, what does is their implementation, Mr Erikume concludes.