Presidency Admits Tinkering With 2016 Budget, Urges NASS To Work With Corrected Version

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, January 19th, 2016

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – At last, the Presidency has responded to the controversy surrounding the submission of new version of 2016 Appropriation Bill, admitting that a corrected version was produced and sent to the National Assembly (NASS).

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki Tuesday at the plenary read President Muhammadu Buhari letter with respect to the raging “confusion” emanating from the alterations to the version presented to the joint session of NASS December 22, 2016.

Saraki said Buhari’s letter has requested NASS to work with the corrected version, indicating that he presented the 2016 budget proposals to the joint sitting of the national assembly and “submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details.”

The letter reads further: “At the time of submission, we indicated that because the details had just been produced, we would have had to check to ensure that there were no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.

“That has since been completed and I understand that the corrections have been submitted.

“The national assembly would therefore have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week. It appears that this has led to some confusion.

“In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the national assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.”