The Federal Government says it is still reconciling the details of the 2017 budget passed by the National Assembly.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Wednesday while briefing State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
The minister was responding to a question on when the 2017 Appropriation Bill would be assented to.
He said: “On the issue of budget, it is being reconciled, and we are all coordinating with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, told State House reporters today that the 2017 budget was not scheduled for assent on Thursday.
The presidential aide stressed that consultations and engagements were still ongoing.
“Further to several enquiries regarding action on the 2017 Appropriation Bill by the executive, be please informed that assent to same is not yet scheduled as consultations and engagements are ongoing. Be please so informed,” Enang said.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, neither answered phone calls nor replied a text message our correspondent sent to him seeking to know whether his boss would sign the budget on Thursday as reported by some online media.
Our correspondent reports that Osinbajo is scheduled to travel to Calabar, Cross River State Capital, Thursday for an official engagement.
