AT LAST, BUHARI SIGNS 2016 BUDGET

After several weeks of anticipation, suspense, ‎bickering, and delay, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday signed the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law. ‎

He signed the all-important national fiscal expenditure document at noon in the Presidential Villa, during a brief ceremony witnessed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and leaders of the National Assembly. ‎

The president submitted the budget to the National Assembly last December but withheld assent to it for weeks after it was passed by the lawmakers due to some grey areas he strongly objected to.

He even at a point accused some civil servants of criminally padding the estimates he presented to the lawmakers; while at another point he accused the lawmakers of mischief by not including the details of the proposals contained in the budget copy they returned to him.

Also at the signing ceremony were Senate President, Bukola,

Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Minister of Budget/National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and  Minister of State for Budget/National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

There were also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Samaila Kawu; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje; and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumuni Jubril.