President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday charged the Cordinating Minister of the Economy and minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Director, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, to ensure that the 2014 Budget is implemented to letter.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan actually signed the document into law on Wednesday and not on Friday as reported in some section of the media.
Abati said Okonjo-Iweala was not around when the President signed the budget two days ago, hence the need for a formal hand over to her on her return.
“The President actually signed the 2014 Budget two days ago. But you know that the Minister of Finance was not in town. So he needed to hand over to her and the Director Budget for onward transmission. That was what he did today. The ministry will be addressing the press in the next one hour,” he said.
The President as soon as he handed over the document to the minister, left for Pretoria, South Africa where he will take part in a high-level discussions with other African Heads of State and Government on combating terrorism in Africa as well as the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma for second term.
