Monday, 11 April 2016

2016 BudgetBuhari not happy with details, summons Saraki, Dogara

Mr. President also frowned at the lawmakers for removing the money meant for the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Railway, describing it as a slap to his change agenda.


Udoma Udo Udoma meeting President Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo to scrutinize the 2016 budget (SaharaReporters)

President Buhari is not happy with the 2016 budget detail that was presented to him by the National Assembly on Thursday. April 7, 2016, reports say.

Buhari reportedly made his feelings known in a meeting with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, House of Reps Speaker,Yakubu Dogara, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ministers, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Vanguard reports that the President did not like some of the changes which the lawmakers made to the 2016 budget, with regards to the removal of funds meant for major national projects.

He asked the National Assembly to take back the 2016 budget and add the important projects which they removed.

A source who spoke to Vanguard said Buhari reviewed the 2016 budget with the leadership of the National Assembly and expressed his concern about some major changes to the cost of some projects the Federal Government had earmarked.

Reports say Buhari was concerned about the transfer of funds meant for the financing of infrastructural development, agriculture and socio-economic development, to what he termed non-essential areas.

READ: Why NASS refused to give 2016 budget to Buhari

Mr. President also frowned at the lawmakers for removing the money meant for the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Railway, describing it as a slap to his change agenda.

Reports say the ministers also blamed the lawmakers for distorting the budget.

READ: 'We're studying the 2016 budget details,' Lai Mohammed

Meanwhile, there are indications that Buhari might sign the 2016 budget and send in a supplementary budget that will accommodate the projects that were removed by the lawmakers.

Culled from pulse

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