Recession: Presidency denies plans to sell national assets

The Presidency, on Friday, dismissed the report that the Federal Government was on the verge of selling national assets to boost the ailing economy, even though the National Executive Council had recommended the sale.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said this while addressing journalists on Friday to commemorate Nigeria's 56th Independence Anniversary.

The Senate had on Tuesday rejected the proposed sale of national assets to boost the country's foreign reserves, even though the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki; Chairman, Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, and several other Nigerians had recommended the move as a measure through which the economy could come out of recession.

When asked if the Presidency would take the advice of the Senate on public assets sale, Enang said, 'I am not aware of the details (of) where the government proposed to sell national assets and I rely on the words given by Senator Udo Udoma (Minister of Budget and National Planning) that there is no proposal (to sell the assets). I also rely on the words given by the Minister of Information (Lai Mohammed) that these are all in the realm of speculations.

'We take the Senate and the National Assembly very seriously. We don't talk back at the institution and what the legislators say is communicated and we respect the Senate because Nigerians should also know that the lawmakers are the people who will approve what we will do.'

Enang failed to confirm or deny a report that President Muhammadu Buhari had sent an Executive Bill to the Senate, seeking emergency powers to revive the economy.

He said, 'If and when it is communicated (to the Senate), you will hear (about) it on the floor. So, I do not speak on communication (of the bill) unless it is read. I am only aware when it is read on the floor of the Senate and the House (of Representatives).' - Punch.