For the third time, the 2016
Appropriation Bill has been returned as President Muhammadu Buhari was said to
have picked holes in the re-worked budget and returned it to the National
Assembly for further legislative work.
It was also gathered that principal
officers and members of the review committee from both legislative chambers
met, yesterday, at about 3.20pm till about 5.30pm in the Senate wing to
reconsider the observations made by the President on the budget.
Vanguard’s attempts to get some of
the principal officers and the review committee members to confirm or deny the
story proved abortive as some of them switched off their phones, while those
whose phones were active ignored calls and refused to respond to text messages.
A source close to the committee confirmed that the budget was actually
submitted to the President but that he refused to touch it due to some issues
he was not comfortable with.
He said: “The budget got to the
State House at about 1.10 am and Mr. President went through it early this
morning (yesterday) and still had some issues with some of the figures. “I
cannot tell you exactly what it was but I think the insertions made by the
lawmakers were not significantly altered.
“You know the lawmakers had moved
some allocations for key projects that are dear to the President to other
areas, especially to their constituency projects. “Of course, they have changed
some but I believe Mr. President is not satisfied with the reconciliation they
made. I think this is one of the reasons it was returned.”
He also disclosed that the President
would assent to the budget today should the lawmakers make all the corrections
and transmit the document to him tonight (last night). He said: “I can assure
you, Mr. President is desirous to sign the budget because he is aware and has
acknowledged that Nigerians are going through hardship. So, if the budget is
cleaned up this night and sent to him, he will sign it as soon as possible.
That I know very well.” Further
probe into the matter revealed that the N500 million diversion of funds to
constituency projects is “what is giving the president headache.” A lawmaker,
who is not a member of the review committee but a member of the standing
committee on appropriation, told Vanguard in confidence that the “President
wants a situation where the insertions should be reduced to about N50 million
before he will sign the budget.”
The reviewed copy, which was sent yesterday
morning did not cut substantially from the N500 million. At press time, the
review committee meeting was still ongoing as the members struggled to ensure
that all the observations of the President are put in order before
presentation.
Source:Vanguard Newspaper
Source:Vanguard Newspaper
Tags
Business