No decision yet on who'll sign 2017 budget — Federal Government

The Federal Government has hinted that there is no decision yet on who will assent to the 2017 budget.

The government said such a decision would be taken when the document is transmitted to the Presidency.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

He was responding to a question on whether the budget will be signed by Osinbajo or taken to President Muhammadu Buhari in London where the latter is currently receiving a medical treatment.

The minister simply responded: "When it (the budget) is transmitted to the Presidency, that decision (on who to sign) will be taken‎."

He said the budget which was passed last Thursday by the National Assembly had not been formally transmitted to the executive.

He, however, disclosed that the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, had received the advance copy.

Mohammed also stated that if there were any discrepancies in the budget presented and the one passed, the executive would report to Udoma for harmonisation.