There were speculations that President
Muhammadu Buhari rejected the 2016
budget sent to him by the National
Assembly
– The presidency noticed some key aspects
on government’s core infrastructural focus
which was meant to be considered to be had
been removed from the document
– The revelation was made by the senior
special assistant to the president (Senate
matters), Senator Ita Enang
Ita Enang, special assistant on Senate
matter
The presidency on Monday, April 11, has
denied that the 2016 budget was rejected by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was disclosed by Ita Enang, the senior
special assistant (SSA) to President
Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly
Matters (Senate) in an interview with News men
He said that the President convened a
meeting and gave each of the ministers,
Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs) an opportunity to look at the details
of the budget submitted by the National
Assembly.
He added that the budget was given to the
different ministries to enable him make a
decision on the budget.
“It is not true that the budget has been
rejected by the Presidency. The president
received the budget and convened emergency
federal executive council meeting and gave
each of the ministers, ministries, departments
and agencies the opportunity to look at the
details as submitted by the National Assembly
to enable him get opinion on the state of the
budget to enable him take a decision.
“That exercise was conducted on Friday and it
is ongoing by the different ministers and
ministries. The constitutional time for Mr
President receiving and considering the budget
began Friday last week.
“The question of returning the budget has not
arisen,” he said.
He further added that he will not speak more
on the matter except to adopt the opinion
that was expressed by Lai Mohammed, the
Minister of information who said that the
appraisal of the budget is still on-going.
Enang said this is because the ministers are
working for the President and with the
President who are examining the details of
the budget.
“So the question has not arisen as to
returning or otherwise. But I want to say the
best way we as liaison officers are handling
this matter is to speak less and work more
creating interactions. So we will raise more
interactions, consultations, engagement,” he
concluded.
Enang however failed to comment on when
the National Assembly accused the
executive of the Railway Calabar project not
being contained in the budget because its
examination is still ongoing.
It was earlier reported that President
Muhammadu Buhari rejected the 2016
budget sent to him for assent by the
National Assembly because he felt
disappointed that provisions for major
national projects and programmes were
either removed or funds were slashed.
After the budget was scrutinized by the
ministers at an emergency meeting it was
noticed that some major aspects considered
to be government’s core infrastructural focus
had been removed.
Some of the major projects include the
Calabar-Lagos coastal rail line for which
Buhari made a provision of N60 billion.
While the executive had provided for the
completion of all key road projects across
Nigeria, the National Assembly cut the
amounts provided and instead included new
roads which studies are yet to be
conducted.
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