There is no plan by the Presidency to reject the 2017 budget passed by the National Assembly as alleged in some reports as it can only assent to the budget or withhold assent as the case maybe.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said this in a press statement, adding that the Presidency is working within the constitutional time-frame required to process details of the budget passed by the National Assembly.

Enang stated that if there should be areas that need input, the Presidency would engage the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives and, as such, any report suggesting a rejection of the 2017 budget by the Presidency is incorrect.

He further explained that the Presidency is studying every detail of the budget using the available systems at its disposal to ensure the figures appropriated to MDAs are consistent with the realities on ground, while also engaging in consultations.

“When the budget was presented to both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration last year by President Muhammadu Buhari, both chambers subjected the document to legislative processes using internal systems at their disposal.

“This, exactly, is what the Presidency is actually doing at the moment to ensure what would be eventually assented to sufficiently addresses the nation’s present realities, as not doing so could expose government to a backlash from Nigerians,” Enang added.