Following the confusion caused by the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, on who would assent to the 2017 budget, while
responding to questions from State House Correspondents, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has maintained that he will sign the 2017 budget, when it is ready.
The Acting President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, confirmed this via his twitter handle. Recall, that there has been controversy over who would be saddled with the responsibility of signing the 2017 budget, since Buhari is in the United Kingdom for further medical check-up.
Recall also, that Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, presided over by Osinbajo alerted Nigerians that no decision has been reached on who will sign the 2017 budget.
“When it (the budget) is transmitted to the Presidency, that decision (on who to sign) will be taken”, Lai Mohammed had said.
However, countering Lai Mohammed’s position, Osinbajo last night stated through his aide: “Just so we are clear: when the time comes, everything is set, & he is satisfied, Ag. President, Yemi Osinbajo, will assent to the 2017 budget.”
This confusion was obviously prompted by Buhari’s absence from the country, who is in the United Kingdom on a medical follow-up, for an undisclosed ailment. The National Assembly had increased the budget by N143 billion, while it increased its own initial budget of N115 billion, by N10 billion.
