Reports that President Goodluck Jonathan will sign the 2013 budget this week are premature, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

In a statement released in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, by her Special Adviser, Paul C Nwabuikwu, Okonjo-Iweala made it clear that discussion on the budget are still ongoing between the Executive and the National Assembly and that no one could predict when the talks would be concluded.

“Whereas discussions between the Executive and the National Assembly are ongoing in a cordial atmosphere, it is not yet clear when they will be concluded as much work remains to be done,” the CME/HMF said.

“Against this background, reports stating that the President will sign the budget this week are therefore not realistic,” she added.

•Photo: Okonjo-Iweala.