Buhari holds closed door meeting with NASS leaders

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, held a closed door meeting with leaders of the National Assembly at the Presidential Villa to dialogue on some grey areas in the 2018 budget and some controversial bills.

The meeting was gathered to be requested by the National Assembly leadership for consultation to strengthen executive/legislature relations in the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Assembly team included the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara; Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan; House Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other principal officers. The President’s team includes President Buhari,   Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, the two Senior Special Assistants to the President on National Assembly Matters, Mr. Ita Enang and Kawu Sumaila.

The meeting was convened after about 48 hours President Buhari declined assent to the Amended Electoral Act enacted by the National Assembly.

Another issue deliberated at the meeting includes the delay in the passage of the 2018 appropriation bill presented to the National Assembly in December 2017 by the President.

The meeting was aid to have commenced at 9.10p.m.

The National Assembly had complained that some ministries and departments have failed to appear before the lawmakers to defend their budgets. Thereafter, President Buhari directed all heads of MDAs to appear before the lawmakers to defend their budgets.