The National Assembly has transmitted the 2019 Appropriation Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Umar El-Yakub, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), confirmed the development on Saturday.
The bill, it was learnt, was transmitted to the Presidency on Thursday, 10 days after both the Senate and House of Representatives passed the budget.
The bill was passed on April 30.
El-Yakub, however, said the executive arm of government would have to review the bill before the president gives his assent.
“Yes, it has (been transmitted) on Thursday evening. But you know that they (executive) will have to analyse it before it is assented to,” El-Yakub told the Punch.
On whether the bill has been placed on President Buhari’s desk, the presidential aide reiterated that the bill must be analysed, noting that the document must not necessarily be with the president currently.
He said: “You asked if it had been transmitted and I said yes. When you asked if it was with the President, it may not be with the President; it has to be analysed. You just don’t sign budgets because they have been passed (by the legislature).
“First, it was a budget proposal. So, one needs to look at it and see. The National Assembly has passed it. It will go to the President who will analyse it and sign it as usual.”
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