President Muhammadu Buhari may have returned the 2016 appropriation bill to the National Assembly for the third time.
The re-worked budget was reportedly sent to the President around 1:15am but he sent it back by 12 noon on Tuesday, Vanguard reports.
The report further states that the principal officers of the National Assembly and members of the review committee from the two chambers met for a little over two hours in the Senate wing to deliberate on Buhari’s objections.
The President is said to be dissatisfied with the modification carried out by officials of the National Assembly.
“The budget got to the State House at about 1.10am and Mr. President went through it early this morning and still had some issues with some of the figures. I can not 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 why it was returned”.
“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. He is also concerned 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”.
Hattip to YNaija
