Osinbajo signs N7.441 Trillion 2017 Budget after Buhari’s approval.
Following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday signed the 2017 N7.441 trillion appropriation bill approved by the National Assembly, into law.
The signing ceremony which took place at the Presidential Villa, at 4.41pm had in attendance key executive and legislative top notchers including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
Osinbajo was joined at the signing ceremony by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremamdu, principal officers of the National Assembly, Chief of staff to the President Mr. Abba Kyari, and Deputy Chief of Staff Staff Ade Ikpaye.
Others were the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Winifred Oyo-Ita, Ministers, Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Habiba Lawal, key aides of the president and acting president among others.
The absence of President Muhammadu Buhari who is on medical vacation in London had stalled the signing of the bill with conflicting reports indicating the acting president would either sign it or it will be delayed till Buhari returned.
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Earlier in the day, the Senior Special Assistant, media and publicity, to President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu had said President Buhari directed Osinbajo to sign the budget “in the interest of the nation’s economy”.
The letter reads, “Following the receipt of a full brief on the 2017 Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly, and to buttress the unity at the highest level of government, President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated that it is in the interest of the nation’s economy for the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to sign the Appropriation Bill into law.
In a letter dated June 10, 2017, which he personally signed and addressed to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the President also said he was “pleased by the joint resolution that the Executive would submit next year’s budget proposals by October 2017 and the National Assembly will conclude the Appropriation process by December 2017, so that the country can return to a normal fiscal period from next year onwards.”
GARBA SHEHU
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 12, 2017.
