The federal government on Friday said it has begun preparing the 2017 budget, even though the one for the current is yet to be assented to by the President.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Charles Dafe, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the Minster of State Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, made the disclosure when the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, visited her.

Dafe added that the minister also disclosed that the government has started preparing the Medium Term 2016-2020 Development Programme to achieve sustainable development.

Zainab, the statement said, called on ANAN to help in building the capacity of the ministry’s staff on Zero Based Budgeting application.

She also called on the association to join the fight against corruption.

“As accountants, we can resist corruption, block illegal releases; we need to start from ourselves; we must uphold the tenets of our profession and make ourselves clean and accountable always.

“Our administration came on a change mantra; we shall be transparent and accountable to all Nigerians,” Dafe quoted the minister.