From the presidency to the National Assembly and back to the presidency, the 2016 Budget estimate is now domiciled in the respective federal ministries for critical review. This was after the document had been debated, pruned from its original figure of N6.08 trillion to N6.06 trillion and passed into law by the National Assembly last week.
But while transmitting the approved copy to the presidency, the National Assembly failed to attach the details and only included the highlights. The development infuriated president Mohammadu Buhari who, while away in the United States last week, said that he was withdrawing his assent until the details were made available to him.
President Buhari’s fury was hinged on the incidences of “padding” which characterized the budget. He said “Some bureaucrats removed what we put in the proposal and replaced it with what they wanted. I have to look at the bill that has been passed by the National Assembly, ministry by ministry, to be sure that what has been brought back for me to sign is in line with our original submission”.
The president had since vowed to mete out punitive measures to those found culpable on the matter.
But on Thursday, the National Assembly transmitted the details of the budget to the presidency. However, instead of signing the document, the president on Friday made good use his words and ordered that the document be sent back to the 36 Ministries for review.
This was made known after an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC which the president summoned immediately after he received the budget details on Thursday.
SOURCE: VANGUARD
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