The controversy over the 2018 budget is yet to cease as the National Assembly has scheduled a press conference for Friday over it.
The National Assembly said it would address some of the issues raised by President Muhammadu Buhari during the signing of the budget on Wednesday.
The president had expressed outrage over some of the changes made to the budget by the National Assembly as he complained that they were capable of jeopardising the implementation.
But reacting to the issues raised over the budget, the Senate, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the details of the changes carried out on the document submitted by the president would be presented in the interest of the general public.
The statement reads: “The Senate has seen the statement issued by our sister chamber, the House of Representatives, in response to the issues raised by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2018 Appropriations while signing it into law earlier today, and we totally agree with the position stated therein.
“It should also be noted that the leadership of both chambers have directed the chairmen of our committees on appropriations to provide item by item, detail explanations on all points raised by the President for the benefit of members of the public.
“They will therefore address a press conference on Friday, June 22nd, 2018.
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“It should however be noted that the action of the National Assembly while working on the budget was informed by the provision of the constitution on the need for inclusion, balance and the fact that the first responsibility of government is the security and welfare of all citizens.”
Earlier, the House of Representatives, through its spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas, explained that it carried out the changes as required by the constitution.
“The makers of the Constitution never envisaged that when a proposal is laid before the National Assembly we should return it the way the President or the executive brought it.
“If that is the case, there would be no point bringing it to the National Assembly. But the makers of this constitution know that there must be a second opinion because they are elected representatives of the people.
“For us to tinker with the budget is our duty,” he said.
