[F]ormer President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has denied ever signing budget without seeing details of the adjustments made to it by the National Assembly, while in office.
The Presidency recently accused the National Assembly of playing politics with the budget procedure by sending the 6.08 trillion budget to it for assent without the details.
In a swift reaction, the National Assembly said that was the practice and that former Presidents including Obasanjo signed budgets without seeing details from the lawmakers.
Obasanjo who paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House on Thursday was asked by journalists to confirm if he ever signed budget without seeing the details within the 8 years he was President.
The former President who exclaimed and appeared shocked said journalists should ask whoever said that the question very well.
“Eh en? I signed budget without details? Anybody who told you that, go and ask him again.”
On the purpose of his visit, Obasanjo said he was in the State House to share some of his experiences with President Buhari.
“You know that not too long ago, I was out there. I have come to share some of my experiences with him,” he said
Asked to give details of what he told the President, he said “Ha! Ha! If I say I shared experiences with my wife, you will ask me wetin I talk with my wife?
Fielding further questions on the 2016 Appropriation Bill, he said he wouldn’t say much because he had not read the details.
He added that there was no cause for alarm over the seeming delay in signing the budget
“Before I will be able to tell you something about the budget, I have to read it and know what it contains and know what to talk about.
The constitution allows you to continue with the budget provided you did not go beyond the previous year. That can be done up to the middle of the year,” he added.
