Buhari still consulting, studying N8.92tn budget –Presidency

The Presidency says   President Muhammadu Buhari is still consulting on the N8.92tn 2019 budget and studying the provisions therein.

It also said  Buhari, having received the 2019 Appropriation Bill from the National Assembly, was within the number of days allowed by the 1999 Constitution to make a decision on whether to sign it or withhold his assent.

The expectation was that the President would sign it almost immediately, considering that the budget had long been delayed.

 Findings indicated that the 2018 budget, still being implemented by the Federal Government, would run out its full cycle on June 20.

However, speaking in an exclusive interview in Abuja on Monday, Buhari’s National Assembly Liaison Officer, Senator Ita Enang, said the President would first consult and study the budget before making a decision.

He  said  so long as Buhari was  acting within the constitutional provision of 30 days, he had not erred by not signing the budget as of Monday.

Enang said, “The constitution provides that when the President receives any bill from the National Assembly, there is specific number of days that he uses to consult, study, scrutinise and make sure that it accords with a decision.

“So, the budget is still going through standard procedures. A decision will be communicated appropriately whenever it is reached within the stated number of days.”

Under Section 58 of the constitution, the President has up to 30 days to make up his mind on a bill transmitted to him the National Assembly.

Section 58(4-5) states, “Where a bill is presented to the President for  assent, he shall within 30  days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.

“Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become a  law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”

Meanwhile, Enang declined to speak on the invitation by the House of Representatives, asking Buhari to appear before it over the rising security issues in the country.

The  House had first invited the President in April, but he did not appear.

Last week he was reinvited.

Asked whether Buhari had received correspondence  on the second invitation and would comply, Enang replied, “I will not comment on that issue.”

The House  on April 11, summoned Buhari to appear “within 48 hours” to address lawmakers on the frequent attacks by  herdsmen and other security problems like banditry and kidnappings in the country.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency in Benue State, Mr Terseer Mark-Gbillah.

The resolution, which was unanimous, stated, “Request that the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to address the House and the entire nation within 48 hours.”

The House added that the President was to explain “his inability and the inability of his administration, since its inception, to declare the killer herdsmen as terrorists, to enable the Armed Forces to take commensurate action against them”.

 They said, “The inability of the armed forces under his watch to stop the recurring death of scores of innocent Nigerians annually from systemic attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits, and the gradual occupation of the affected communities by these herdsmen despite countless assurances and statements by him, promising to stop these attacks.

“His selective and ineffective responses to the killing of Nigerians by herdsmen, especially when they occur in certain parts of the country like Benue State.

 “The immediate measures he intends to employ as the Commander-in-Chief to provide the armed forces, including the police, with the required resources to confront and dislodge the killer herdsmen from their known hideouts, establishment of permanent presence in immediate proximity to the affected communities and provide a timeline within which these attacks by killer herdsmen and alleged bandits will be curtailed, so Nigerians can return to their ancestral homes and means of livelihood.”