By Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja - The Presidency on Tuesday raised the alarm
that President Muhammadu Buhari was still
waiting for the details of the 2016
Appropriation bill almost a week after it was
passed by the National Assembly.
A presidency source who does not want his
name in print, said that the President is
anxious to assent the bill.
The delay, the source said, is slowing down
quick implementation of government
programmes contained in the budget.
He said: “The President has just received the
transmission of the Appropriation Bill (2016
Budget) from the National Assembly and is
very anxious to sign it into law, but the
National Assembly only sent in the highlights
without the details of the budget.
“As result, the President has been
handicapped in signing the Bill because he
does not know what is contained in the details
and what adjustments the National Assembly
must have made to the proposal sent to
them.
“Although he is anxious to sign the document
so that implementation of the provisions could
start immediately and ease the tension in the
economy and polity, he is afraid he may later
discover, when the details are sent, that what
is contained therein is not implementable.
“He wishes the National Assembly could send
in the details speedily so that it could be
considered for assent.
According to him, Ministers are also eager
that the budget be signed so they could start
implementing their programmes,
He added: “But they are unable to push the
President to sign what has been transmitted
because they also do not know what is
contained in the details.
“They are particularly worried that the year is
gradually aging and the provision of the law in
respect of spending the previous year’s
budget is not helping matters because of the
low Capital provision for 2015.
“Because of the low provision made last year.
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