President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the acting President , Yemi Osinbajo , to go ahead and sign the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law .
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , disclosed this in a two -paragraph statement on Monday .
Shehu said Buhari who is currently receiving medical attention in London , the United Kingdom believed that it was in the interest of the nation ’ s economy for Osinbajo to sign the document without further delay .
He said Buhari ’ s directive was conveyed to the Minister of Budget and National Planning , Udo Udoma , in a letter dated June 10 .
The statement read , “ 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 .'”
There have been speculations that Osinbajo might be delaying the signing of the budget to wait for Buhari ’ s return .
The President left the country on May 7 for another round of medical treatment after sending a letter to the National Assembly as provided for in Section 145 of the nation ’ s constitution .
He told the federal lawmakers that only his doctors would determine how long he would be away from the country .
There were speculations last week that the 74 -year - old Nigerian leader would return last weekend .
The Presidency, however , said it had no such information .
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , disclosed this in a two -paragraph statement on Monday .
Shehu said Buhari who is currently receiving medical attention in London , the United Kingdom believed that it was in the interest of the nation ’ s economy for Osinbajo to sign the document without further delay .
He said Buhari ’ s directive was conveyed to the Minister of Budget and National Planning , Udo Udoma , in a letter dated June 10 .
The statement read , “ 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 .'”
There have been speculations that Osinbajo might be delaying the signing of the budget to wait for Buhari ’ s return .
The President left the country on May 7 for another round of medical treatment after sending a letter to the National Assembly as provided for in Section 145 of the nation ’ s constitution .
He told the federal lawmakers that only his doctors would determine how long he would be away from the country .
There were speculations last week that the 74 -year - old Nigerian leader would return last weekend .
The Presidency, however , said it had no such information .
