Presidency Denies Withdrawal Of N6.08trn 2016 Budget Proposal From NASS

The Presidency yesterday denied withdrawing the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget proposal presented to a joint session of National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, 22 December 2015, as recently rumoured.

President Buhari

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, who reacted on behalf of the presidency in a chat with journalists, said there was nothing like that, as there was no communication to that effect in any way to the National Assembly by Buhari.

“To my knowledge, the budget as laid by Mr. President on 22 December 2015 is still with the National Assembly and has not been withdrawn,” he said.

According to him, “If there is need for such an action, there is always a communication, which is not in place in anyway and besides, budget is an important document that cannot just be dealt with behind the scene at the stage it is now.

“It can however be worked on behind the scene after second reading at the various committee levels.”

Enang’s reaction was also corroborated by senators at separate interviews by declaring that as far as they are concerned, the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget proposal was still with the National Assembly for consideration as presented to it by the president last month since there is no communication to that effect.

Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, said Nigerians should disregard such report as mere rumour and nothing more.

According to him, “the budget proposal as presented by Mr. President about two weeks ago, was implementable, so what will warrant its withdrawal?”

He added that on account of its implementability, the document would be the first thing to be considered by the Senate upon resumption next week.

His words: “We will settle down immediately into the issue of passing the budget as soon as we resume next week, first by debating its general principles and then resolve into the committees to quickly ensure that the budget is passed as quickly as possible, so that government business can start with no delay.”

Also reacting to the rumour on budget withdrawal, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South), said: “I don’t think it has been withdrawn but whatever the case, the figure of the entire budget will not change. Mostly, it is adjustment of priority projects.

“During the media chat recently, the president specifically mentioned some few projects, especially some important roads in the country. It is possible some of the roads may not have been reflected in the budget. There is no way if the president speaks on something, that may be part of his campaign promises and I think, he will try and do it.