2013 Budget presentation: Jonathan bows to NASS


ABUJA – STRONG indications emerged yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan may have bowed to pressure by members of the National Assembly who declared that they were not ready for the Joint presentation of the 2013 budget.
The President who had last week written to the Senate President for the presentation of the budget this week Thursday, will have to shift it for another week.
President Jonathan in his letter which was read on Tuesday by Senate President David Mark read, ‘’I write to crave your kindindulgence to grant me the slotof 12.00 noon on Thursday, October 4th, 2012 to enable meformally address a joint session of the National Assembly on the2013 Budget.
‘’While thanking the Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic for the consistency of their support, please accept, Distinguished Senate President the assurancesof my highest consideration.”
Answering question from Vanguard yesterday, the SpecialAdviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi who disclosed that the joint presentation will take place in the next two weeks, explained that the change in the date became imperative because members of the House of Representatives had last week suspended plenary for one week to enable them go on oversight functions.
It will be recalled that membersof the House of Representativeshad last week Thursday made good its threat not to have anything to do with the 2013 budget until it was fully satisfied with the implementation of the 2012 budget by the executive just as they vowed that they will not grant the president audience topresent the 2013 budget.