2016 Budget Scandal: Buhari breaks silence, vows “severe punishment” for those responsible
President Muhammadu Buhari vowed late
Tuesday that all those involved in the
“padding” of the 2016 National Budget will
face the most severe punishment.
Addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi
Arabia, President Buhari condemned the
distortion of the budget proposals by
entrenched interests.
The president said the “unauthorised
alterations” had completely changed the
document from the one he presented to the
National Assembly, a statement by
presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina,
said.
“The culprits will not go unpunished. I have
been a military governor, petroleum minister,
military Head of State and headed the
Petroleum Trust Fund.
“Never had I heard the words ‘budget
padding’. Our Minister of Budget and
National Planning did a great job with his
team. The Minister became almost half his
size during the time, working night and day
to get the budget ready, only for some people
to pad it.
“What he gave us was not what was finally
being debated. It is very embarrassing and
disappointing. We will not allow those who
did it to go unpunished,” President Buhari
vowed.
The 2016 budget has been steeped in
controversy after several reports revealed
inflated allocation of funds and multibillion
naira phoney subheads smuggled into the
budget.
The president also assured members of the
Nigerian community that his administration
was working diligently to fulfil its campaign
promises, particularly on security,
unemployment, and corruption.
Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance
for corruption, President Buhari said that the
war against corruption was a monumental
task that he was determined to tackle
successfully.
“We have zero tolerance for corruption and
other unethical practices. We will deal
decisively with anybody found wanting,” he
promised members of the Nigerian
community.
President Buhari also used the opportunity of
the gathering to brief Nigerians in Saudi
Arabia on his administration’s efforts to end the Boko
Haram insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.
“Our armed forces have done a great job of dealing
decisively with Boko Haram. We are collaborating with our
neighbours in the operations of the Multinational Joint Task
Force to handle security threats in the sub-region and we
have significantly destroyed the capacity of the insurgents,”
the President said.
He also spoke on efforts being made to diversify the
Nigerian economy, stressing that more opportunities are now
open for local and foreign investors in the country.
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Times, Nigeria.
2016 Budget Scandal: Buhari breaks
silence, vows “severe punishment” for
those responsible
February 24, 2016 Premium Times
Tuesday that all those involved in the
“padding” of the 2016 National Budget will
face the most severe punishment.
Addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi
Arabia, President Buhari condemned the
distortion of the budget proposals by
entrenched interests.
The president said the “unauthorised
alterations” had completely changed the
document from the one he presented to the
National Assembly, a statement by
presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina,
said.
“The culprits will not go unpunished. I have
been a military governor, petroleum minister,
military Head of State and headed the
Petroleum Trust Fund.
“Never had I heard the words ‘budget
padding’. Our Minister of Budget and
National Planning did a great job with his
team. The Minister became almost half his
size during the time, working night and day
to get the budget ready, only for some people
to pad it.
“What he gave us was not what was finally
being debated. It is very embarrassing and
disappointing. We will not allow those who
did it to go unpunished,” President Buhari
vowed.
The 2016 budget has been steeped in
controversy after several reports revealed
inflated allocation of funds and multibillion
naira phoney subheads smuggled into the
budget.
The president also assured members of the
Nigerian community that his administration
was working diligently to fulfil its campaign
promises, particularly on security,
unemployment, and corruption.
Reaffirming his government’s zero tolerance
for corruption, President Buhari said that the
war against corruption was a monumental
task that he was determined to tackle
successfully.
“We have zero tolerance for corruption and
other unethical practices. We will deal
decisively with anybody found wanting,” he
promised members of the Nigerian
community.
President Buhari also used the opportunity of
the gathering to brief Nigerians in Saudi
Arabia on his administration’s efforts to end the Boko
Haram insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.
“Our armed forces have done a great job of dealing
decisively with Boko Haram. We are collaborating with our
neighbours in the operations of the Multinational Joint Task
Force to handle security threats in the sub-region and we
have significantly destroyed the capacity of the insurgents,”
the President said.
He also spoke on efforts being made to diversify the
Nigerian economy, stressing that more opportunities are now
open for local and foreign investors in the country.
Deadly Recruitment Scam:
EFCC slams 11-count charge on
ex-Minister Abba Moro, others
Anti-Saraki senator, Marafa,
spits fire, says Senate ethics
committee members
“undistinguished”
Nigeria, Saudi Arabia commit to
raising oil price
In letter to VP Osinbajo, ex-AGF
Adoke, lies, muddles up Malabu
oil scam matter
How curious $3.3 million tax
holiday to Shell, Total, Eni, is
killing Nigerians – Report
EFCC arrests ex-Minister, Abba
Moro, two others over 2014
immigration recruitment scam
How my govt. plans to overcome
impact of oil crisis — Buhari
PDP Ministers reject Modu
Sheriff as party chairman
Alleged N2.3 Bn Scam: How ex-
NIMASA boss asked me to share
N121million –Witness
PEOPLE RECENT POPULAR
Our Digital Network
Election Centre
Human Trafficking
Investigation
Centre for Investigative
Journalism
National Conference
About Us
Advert Rates
Our Reporters/Writers
Contact Us
All content is Copyrighted © 2015 The Premium
Times, Nigeria.
2016 Budget Scandal: Buhari breaks
silence, vows “severe punishment” for
those responsible
February 24, 2016 Premium Times
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