President Muhammadu Buhari, on
Thursday directed Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) yet to defend
their 2018 budget proposal before the National Assembly (NASS) to do so without
delay.
Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said this while briefing State House
correspondents on the outcome of the meeting held between the President and
NASS principal officers at the State House.
Mustapha said: “Mr President has given
instructions that all ministries and parastatals should ensure that they appear
before the National Assembly to defend their submissions so that we can get
this out of the way.
“This is a very dynamic year,
there are preparations for elections and we are having quite a number of
security challenges.”
The SGF said it was a harmonious
meeting between the executive and the legislature aimed at building a very
harmonious working relationship.
According to him Buhari gave an
update on what he was doing about the economy, security and job creation.
He explained that in the past few
weeks the president had visited about three locations in the country all in an
attempt to build confidence into the hearts of the people of the country.
He noted that the meeting also
discussed the processes in the NASS with regard to the budget and the need to
speedily conclude on the budget.
On the Bills rejected by
President Buhari, the SGF said it was part of the legislative process as it was
not everything that the NASS passed that would go as passed.
“The President has overall
picture of how to approach matters in this country when it involves issues of
legislation.
“When he holds back his assent,
he normally advances reasons why he did not do it and it should be looked at
from the context of the reasons that he has adduced,’’ he said.
He said that the process of the
interface would lead to amicable resolution of all the matters.
Senate President, Dr Bukola
Saraki described the meeting as a good one, being an interaction between the
executive and the National Assembly leadership.
According to him, the meeting
discussed broad issues on security, budget, while the NASS executives also
asked some questions about some issues and pressed the observations they had on
such issues.
“It was a very good meeting and
it gave us the opportunity to share our own views about the areas we needed to
so that we will be well informed on them.
“It was a good development,’’
Saraki added.
He explained that logistic challenges
made it difficult for the meeting to hold earlier than now.
He said NASS was working to pass
the budget, but noted that some agencies have not appeared to defend their
appropriation.
“We are hoping that things would
speed up now and that they will come and submit the details, he said.
He said that the meeting did not
discuss the bills passed by the NASS which the President declined assent.
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