The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Senate, Ita Enang has said that contrary to a statement credited to the Office of the Vice President this morning, that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo will sign the 2017 budget, the Budget will not be assented by the Acting President (Aka Coordinator of FG) but will be signed by President Buhari himself in London.
This clarification is coming 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.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed had earlier said that “they don’t know who will sign the 2017 Budget”. The Minister told State House reporters, after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Osinbajo that the decision on who to sign the budget would be taken when the document is transmitted to the Presidency.
“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.
