Connect with us

Politics

Again, Buhari scrutinizes budget quietly submitted by NASS

Published

on

One year after, Nigeria worse off with Buhari's ministers

The National Assembly on Thursday quietly handed over what they said was a clean copy of the 2016 Budget to the presidency for assent.

The document was transmitted by a 10-man committee of the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun to Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senate (Senator), Ita Enang.

Although the controversial budget which has been delayed for so long due to what have been described as padded areas has been handed over, there are still indications that the president is not in a hurry to sign it.

It was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari intends to go through the document with a fine tooth comb to ensure that it is 100% clean.

Senator Enang confirmed that the clean copy of the document had been handed over to him for onward transmission to the president.

Read also: Recovery of looted funds: We’re getting impatient, Buhari tells envoy

However, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, while also confirming that the presidency had received the document, stated that the president would have to confirm if all the issues raised have been fully addressed and resolved before appending his signature to the budget.

According to him, “The question now is that have those concerns been corrected 100 per cent?

“We should not mix things up. The process is that ministers, who raised the initial concerns, should study the new document and ascertain that the concerns have been addressed 100 per cent.

“It is based on their findings that the Minister of Budget and National Planning will advise the President. The decision on whether the President should sign or not will be based on the advice of the minister.”

But Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, was confident that the President might sign the budget on today (Friday).

“We have completed our work on the budget at the National Assembly and it is already with the executive. We hope the President will sign it tomorrow (Friday) so that it would become operational”, he said.

 

 

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

 

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now