JONATHAN SIGNS 2013 BUDGET, GETS FRESH LEGISLATIVE INPUT.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK  JONATHAN  SIGNS 2013 BUDGET,

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AFTER months of bickering between the Executive and the Legislature over the 2013 Appropriation  Bill, President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday evening signed it into law at a closed-door ceremony in his office conference  room.

A statement by Presidential spokesman,  Dr. Reuben Abati, said that President Jonathan signed the bill into law “following consultations and an agreement between the Executive and the Legislature.”

Abati said the consultations on the appropriation bill had been in the best interest of the country.

And based on the understanding  reached between the Executive and the Legislature, the National Assembly will exercise further “Legislative action” on the budget “to ensure effective and smooth implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act in all aspects.”

The full statement by Abati reads: “Following consultations and an agreement between the Executive and the Legislature on the 2013 Appropriation Bill, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today signed the bill into law. President Jonathan wishes to re-assure all Nigerians that the consultations have been in the best interest of the country, and in pursuit of understanding and mutual co-operation between both arms of government.

“As part of the understanding reached with its leadership, the observations of the executive arm of government about the Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly will be further considered by the National Assembly through legislative action, to ensure effective and smooth implementation of the 2013 Appropriation Act in all aspects.

“The administration remains fully committed to the positive transformation of the country, and effective and efficient service delivery for the benefit of all citizens. All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have therefore been directed to work very hard to ensure that all the services, projects and programmes contained in the budget are successfully delivered on schedule in spite of the slight delay in its enactment.”