Solution found to Budget Impasse, Buhari to sign in a matter of Days- Saraki

According to Senate president, Bukola Saraki, the budget impasse that had been plaguing the assent of the 2016 budget may have been solved.

He also assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will assent to the 2016 budget in a matter of days and not weeks.

Saraki made the statement after the national assembly leadership held a meeting with Buhari and vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

He said: “So, it is good to Nigerians and all of us, we have found a way forward and in a matter of days, the budget will be ready for the President’s assent,” he said.

Saraki said that the lawmakers came to inform the President and his team of the solutions they had found to the budget impasse.

He said that both sides agreed on the way forward and assured Nigerians that the process would be completed in a matter of days.

“We just finished a meeting with the President and the Vice-President.

“We came to let them know some of the solutions that we found in moving the budget process forward and we are happy to say that we have agreed on the way forward.

“We believe that this process will be completed in matter of days rather than weeks.

Saraki also stated that committees have been set up to hasten the passing of the 2016 budget. He said that there will be meeting over the next couple of days to “tidy up a few loose ends and here and there and the outcome will be satisfactory to everybody.’’

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma, confirmed that the Executive had agreed with the Legislature to resolve all grey areas in the budget and the modalities of doing so in the next few days.

“We have agreed to work together to resolve all issues in the next few days and we have also agreed on the modalities of or doing so.

“It was a very good meeting and it was very positive; within the next few days, all issues will be resolved.

“We are working together, both the Executive and the Legislature, to sort those things out. Within the next days, all matters will be resolved,” he added