Presidency Withdrew 2016 Budget To Add Some Changes – NASS Sources Say

More and more theories of the sudden 2016 budget disappearance emerge, as sources at the National Assembly (NASS) claim it was the presidency, who withdrew the documents.

According to an anonymous source, who spoke to Sahara Reporters journalists, the presidency discreetly withdrew the documents to make some adjustments, while keeping it confidential “to avoid any embarrassments”.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, denied an allegation.

He said: “Nobody except the president can withdraw the budget and as far as we know, he hasn’t done that. 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. Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate quarters.”

Among other suspects are Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly, whom the Nigerian Senate accused of falsifying the 2016 budget.

Meanwhile, Mr. Enang described the matter as “sensitive” and declinied to comment on the issue.

On Thursday, January 14, after a closed-door session, the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, said the copy of the N6,08 trillion budget made available to the Senate was different from the original copy presented by Mr. Buhari in December last year.

Saraki later explained that the Senate have in its possession two versions of the 2016 Appropriation Bill, which were from the president and another one with some “adjustments” from Ita Enang.

The Senate has laready held an emergency meeting in the office of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki over the missing documentation.

 
Read more gists here:  Home