National Budget Not “Missing” President Buhari Secretly Withdrew It From The Senate Last Week

Senator Ali Ndume following pressure from President Muhammaud Buhari has disowned media reports stating that he claimed the 2016 Budget document was missing.

FLASH: National Budget not "missing" President @MBuhari secretly withdrew it from the Senate last week

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 12, 2016

FLASH: #Budgetnotmissing National Assembly leadership & the Presidency had agreed to keep it under wraps to avoid embarrassing @MBuhari

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 12, 2016

According to the Senator who gave an interview on Tuesday evening to dispel the reports noted that a “budget cannot be missing. One copy can be laid. It is a symbolic copy.’

He explained that the Budget was in the custody of both chambers of the National Assembly and said it cannot be missing. According to Senator Ndume; “Once the budget is laid in the National Assembly, it has become the property of National Assembly.”

According to our sources, Senator Ndume made the remarks after much pressure from the Presidency and Senate President Saraki who had earlier met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

When asked about the reason for the closed door meeting between the Senate President and the President, the Senate’s spokesman noted that; “Saraki’s visit to Vila is for Senate to know the President’s priority. We want to see how we can fast track the passage of the budget before the end of February. What is before the Senate is a proposal.”

“Once the President signs it, it cannot be amended. We can turn the budget upside down. It cannot be missing.”

He said while clarifying the issue that the lawmakers have the responsibility to scrutinize it and that once it is passed and signed by the President, it becomes a law.

The Nigerian Senate was scheduled to commence deliberation on the proposed budget Tuesday but not could proceed as Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, shocked lawmakers at a closed-door session, when he told them the budget documents had been stolen.