The Presidency has denied allegations that President Muhammadu Buhari, withdrew the 2016 budget from the National Assembly.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a reaction to enquiries by journalists, said after submission the budget has since seized to be the property of the Presidency.
“Nobody except the President can withdraw the budget. “As far as we know, he hasn’t done that,” he said, responding via a statement.
Reports emerging from the National Assembly had said the 2016 appropriation document had been declared missing.
But Shehu said the executive arm of government delivered copies of the budget in hundreds to the two chambers of the National Assembly.
However, Shehu said that since the document which was submitted in hundreds of copies had left the purview of the Presidential Villa, such enquiries should be directed at the National Assembly, which is the appropriate quarter.
“The copies in their hundreds have been delivered to both chambers of the National Assembly.
“By tradition, once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be our property.
“Enquiries as to where it is should be directed to the appropriate quarters” he said.
Elizabeth Archibong
