THE Presidency said yesterday that top level consultation had been initiated between the Executive and Legislative arms of government on the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.96 billion for infrastructure growth.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs Senator Ita Enang, who stated this, added that Buhari has not withheld his assent on the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Amendment Bill.
Enang told reporter in Abuja that necessary legislative process aimed at smoothening rough edges to pave the way to secure the loan was still pending.
He noted that in recent times, the level of consultations between the arms of government and the apex leadership level as well as at the level of the sub-committees between ministers and the committees has increased.
The consultations, he said, were intended to address and resolve any question, which could be thorny in any of the requests made by the Executive.
Enang said the President and governors cannot proceed to take loan because loan will become the responsibility of the entire country to pay.
He said: “The year has been very active, politically and legislatively active and I used the opportunity to comment that this present National Assembly under the leadership of distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki and the Speaker Yakubu Dogara has been very rewarding in terms of legislation and the number of bills passed.
“Some days ago, Mr. President has assented to a little over 30 bills within one year and six months of the inauguration of this present National Assembly.
“This surpasses every record that has been made by the legislature in the last inaugural or since the advent of democracy.
“But for matters which are pending, it would not be wise to speak on them.
“Therefore, please permit me not to speak on any matter which is still undergoing consideration.
“For me and for all of us, I think I will prefer that we ask questions on matters relating to legislation and the bills that have been sent to the President, which have been concluded in one way or the other.
“I will not want to go more into any other matter other than matter of legislation.”
The presidential aide pledged that budget process would be smoother than previous years because there were enough consultations.
He said: “Let me also appreciate the National Assembly for one other thing. The process of considering majors coming before them because the National Assembly holds deep and detailed public hearing on bills and majors and invited members of the public.
“The Medium Term Expenditure Framework was passed by the Senate and committed to its committee on Finance, Appropriation and National Planning and two other committees.
“That conference of committee sat on December 13 and took information and input from the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Finance, Director General of Budget Office of the Federation.”
On the request of Mr. President for approval to take $30 billion loan, Enang said: “Remember that this $30 billion dollar request was not what was to be spent in 2016, 2017 or 2018.
“It was a projection for three years. Therefore, the Senate has remitted it back to Mr. President requesting further information. It is still pending in the House of Representatives.
“Now, the legislative process is still pending. I am sure you could observe in recent times the level of consultation between the arms of government and the apex leadership level and also at the level of the sub-committees levels between the ministers and the committee.
“These are all intended to address and resolve any question which could be thorny in any of the requests made by the executive.
“The president and the executive governor cannot proceed to take loan because loan will become the responsibility of the entire nation to pay.
“And don’t also forget that request of Mr. President was not only for the Federal Government to spend even if a state government wanted to take a loan, it has to be approved by the National Assembly.
“So, the request of the various state governments to take loan for varying projects also contained therein. It is still undergoing consideration and consultation at apex and sub levels.”