Why we must review Budget 2016 before assent – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed that he would 'critically' review the 2016 Appropriation Bill recently passed by the National Assembly before assenting to it, fuelling further fears of prolonged waiting by Nigerians before it is passed into law.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser Media to the President, Femi Adesina quoted the President, who is attending the 4th Nuclear Security Summit of world leaders as speaking at a meeting with the United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry.

Buhari said that in view of the controversial alteration and padding of the budget proposals, he needed to review the appropriation bill to be certain that its contents tallied with the authentic budget proposal presented to the National Assembly.

His words, 'Some bureaucrats removed what we put in the proposal and replaced it with what they wanted. I have to look at the bill that has been passed by the National Assembly, ministry by ministry, to be sure that what has been brought back for me to sign is in line with our original submission.'

The President's position in a far away US is a confirmation of the general fear that Buhari appears not in a hurry to sign the passed 2016 Appropriation Bill into law, against the backdrop of the confirmation by lawmakers that the details of the Bill would be transmitted to the President in two weeks time.

Declaring that his administration would continue to vigorously prosecute its war against corruption, Buhari sought and received an assurance from Kerry that the United States Government will facilitate the repatriation of all stolen Nigerian funds found within the American banking system.

'It will greatly help our country if you assist us to recover all our stolen funds which we can establish to be within your financial system,' the President told Mr. Kerry. - Guardian.