President Umar Yar’Adua this afternoon presented the 2008 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja. The budget, which he said is aimed at uplifting the living standard of the people, is projected on revenue of N1.986 trillion and N1.89 trillion expenditure. President Yar’Adua said the budget is about the ordinary Nigerians and the need to create jobs for the people.

The President proposes to spend N94.36 billion on transportation, N210.45 billion on Education; N138.17 billion on Health and N69.8billion on the Niger Delta.

Other highlights of the budget is the proposal to spend N39.7 billion on the Universal Basic Education and N86 billion on pension arrears.

The President also proposed to spend N73.1billion on high way construction and rehabilitation, while N32 billion is expected to be spent on construction of dams and irrigation projects.

The president also promised that a second Niger bridge would be built in partnership with private organisations.

He promised judicious use of funds and urged the National Assembly to speedily pursue it for the benefit of Nigerians.

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