Abdulmumin Jibrin, suspended member of the house
of representatives, says Acting President Yemi
Osinbajo took a risk by signing the 2017 budget.

The acting president had questioned the extent of
changes made to the 2017 appropriation bill by the
federal lawmakers, who replied that the national
assembly acted within the law and is not a rubber-
stamp body.

In a statement on Monday, Jibrin said action of the
acting president is the “most generous concession in
budget negotiation by a president since 1999″
because once the budget is signed into law, the
executive it bound to implement it, whether it is
corrected or not.

Jibrin recalled that in 2016, President Muhammadu
Buhari refused to sign the budget until all ‘grey areas’
were resolved and corrections effected by the
lawmakers.

“He (Osinbajo) further stated that he agreed to sign
the budget after the assurance of commitment from
NASS to restore the lifted funds. That demonstration of
faith in NASS was unprecedented, and the most
generous concession in budget negotiation by a
President since 1999,” the statement read.

“No any President has ever agreed to sign the budget
into law on the basis of extracting a commitment from
NASS. In this case of Ag President Osinbajo, perhaps
beyond the respect he enjoins, he must strive to also
be feared, through resistance to compromising
settlements in his relationship with NASS.

“The reason isn’t far-fetched all attempts to flatter and
hoodwink President Buhari into signing the 2016
budget, by assuring to make corrections later, met an
impenetrable brick wall. He saw through the
smokescreen, and thus even refused to be
blackmailed by threats of possible backlash from
NASS if the budget is not signed before corrections are
made and also the need to save time.

“No President was ready to take the risk with NASS
but Osinbajo did, as it appeared like striking a deal
with an untrustworthy partner. Whether this seeming
pact is calculated or not, is left for time and the
scrutiny of vigilant and critical Nigerians to determine.

What is obvious, however, is the Ag President has
played into the hands of NASS.

“What the Ag President has given to NASS is a victory
it has never had in the budget process since 1999,
understandably to strengthen the relationship between
the two frequently hostile arms of government. And so,
he deserves a reciprocal gesture and unmistakable
friendship from the lawmakers, not attacks and
threats.”

Jibrin added that a recap of the 2016 budget “fraud”,
with new revelations of facts and key actors would be
unveiled soon.

TheCable