Presidency not happy with 2022 budget padding by NASS, says source

The decision to increase the 2022 budget by a whopping N1 trillion by the National Assembly, bringing the total budget estimates from N16,391,023,917,692 to N17,126,873,917,692 is not sitting well with the Presidency, National Daily has gathered.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, on October 7, presented a bill of N16,391,023,917,692 to the National Assembly, the lawmakers, however, passed the budget last week after increasing it from N16,391,023,917,692 to N17,126,873,917,692.

The N17. 1 trillion bill was sent to the President yesterday for assent.

According to a reliable source, the government submitted a proposal to the National Assembly and the lawmakers within their constitutional powers increased it by N1 trillion. This is on the high side.

“Now that the budget has been passed, the government will take another look at the estimates before President Buhari assent it. We will pay attention to areas where the budget was jacked up.

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The source said the Presidency may not agree with the lawmakers on the increase but it will engage them before the President signs the bill into law.

“The National Assembly did not put into consideration the fact that we have limited resources to fund the budget. The alternative is taking loans to finance it. Yet, the mood of the nation does not support fresh loans.

“It is also our duty to make the National Assembly know if the new oil price benchmark of $62  per barrel set by the lawmakers is realistic or not. You know the Executive based its projections on $57 per barrel.

“So, we have to open up to the National Assembly on what we think are the ways out. Since the President is now in receipt of the bill, the Executive will quickly study it.”

Lawan, during a visit to the President on Thursday night, had said Buhari would sign the appropriation bill this week.

The Senate President, who met with the President alongside House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, said Buhari personally invited them for the purpose of thanking the National Assembly through its leaders for the members’ services to the nation.

He said: “Mr. President invited the honorable speaker and me to come so he could thank the National Assembly through us for working so hard to pass the 2022 appropriation bill, which will be brought to Mr. President for his assent by next week by the grace of God.

“We’re very optimistic. In fact, we’re very sure that Mr. President will sign the bill into an act of the National Assembly next week by the grace of God. And this is the way we should always work together. This is our third appropriation bill to be passed before we go on Christmas break.