2019 Budget: Presidency Faults Report On NASS Delay In Presentation

The presidency has denied that it made uncomplimentary remarks regarding the presentation of the 2019 Budget to the National Assembly.

Reports had emerged on Wednesday that the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma during an interaction with the media, allegedly accused the Legislature of stifling efforts to lay the budget, saying they have not given them a date.

But the presidency in a recent statement refuted making such allegations against the NASS over the delay in the presentation of the budget.

The Minister made this clarification in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Akpandem James on Thursday.

“Going by the headlines in some news media today in respect of the presentation of the 2019 Budget to the National Assembly, it is obvious that some of the reporters misconstrued the response of the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, when he was asked when the budget would be submitted to the Legislature.

“The Minister simply said that as is the procedure when the budget is ready, the Executive liaises with the National Assembly for a date which the Budget will be laid before the joint session of the Assembly; and that the process is on already.

“The Minister at no time throughout the interaction with the media blamed the National Assembly for the delay in the presentation, nor gave the impression that there was any issue between the two arms of government over the 2019 budget,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Members of House of Representatives have threatened to boycott Wednesday session, next week meant for the presentation of 2019 appropriation bill by President Muhammadu Buhari in reaction to statement attributed to Senator Udoma.

They accused him of masterminding lies against Federal Lawmakers in order to bring the institution of the legislature to disrepute, ridicule and subtly cover up the incompetence of the executive arm.