What President told Saraki, Dogara at Villa

President Muhammadu Buhari

In attendance were members of the National Assembly and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

Top on the agenda was the delay in the passage of the 2018 budget, a situation lawmakers had blamed on the failure of heads of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to appear before the Senate to defend their budgets.

Also, over 70% of these MDAs were yet to submit their budget breakdown.

“At the meeting last night, President Buhari was surprised to find out that not all minsters have appeared before the Senate,” a source told .

“President Buhari apologized for thinking the blame was on the National Assembly,” the source who pleaded anonymity added.

President Buhari also gave a one-week ultimatum to all heads of agencies who were yet to comply with the requirements to do so.

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This will be communicated to the heads of agencies by the SGF.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the SGF said: “Mr President has given instructions that all ministries and parastatals should ensure that they appear before the national assembly to defend their submissions so that we can get this out of the way.

“This is a very dynamic year, there are preparations for elections and we are having quite a number of security challenges.

“And so if we do not appropriate, where will the money come from to be able to prosecute some of the assignments the federal government has in the appropriation of 2018.

“So this is a very good meeting; we intend to build on it. It is a confidence building mechanism and it is an interface that would definitely get a new dimension of the governance of this country for the betterment of the people of Nigeria.”

President Buhari presented the 2018 budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly in December 2017.