The Speaker said the National Assembly was on the same page with the President and the government regarding the xenophobic attacks on Nigerian citizens in South Africa.“I came to fully discuss that with Mr President and other national issues that require the attention of both the legislature and the executive, and we had very fruitful discussions on those issues.
“As of now, Mr President has taken proactive steps in evacuating our citizens. We have issued a statement today and it’s in tandem with what the executive is doing and we stand by our citizens.
“Our priority is to protect the welfare of our citizens and that is exactly what we are doing and that is what the President is doing,’’ he said.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Gbajabiamila as also revealing that they deliberated on the issue of budget circle as well as the $9.6 billion dollars London judgment debt.He expressed the hope that the executive arm would submit the 2020 appropriation bill to the National Assembly before the end of September 2019.
“We discussed the issue of the budget. As you are aware, we want to bring the budget circle back to what it used to be – January to December, and the only way to do that is for an early presentation of the budget and we have discussed that.”“I know the budget is going to come as early as possible. It maybe the end of this month or shortly thereafter, but I cannot give you and definite date.
“But it’s going to be an early presentation so that we can pass the budget before the end of the year and return to the January to December circle.
“We discussed security issues and the issue of the recent $9 billion award against Nigeria. I say that with a smile but not really smiling. Clearly we are in opposition to that and steps will be taken,’’ he said.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN
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