Buhari can’t withdraw $1bn for security without appropriation – Reps

*Awaits communication from presidency
The House of Representatives on Thursday, declared that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot withdraw $1 billion from the federation account for the purchase of military hardware without appropriation by the National Assembly.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Abdulrazaq Namdas, who made the clarification yesterday, while speaking to House correspondents, asserted that the president cannot authorize such an expenditure without approval by the legislature.

He stated that lawmakers have heard so much about the $1billion expenditure for the purchase of arms in the media, but disclosed that the National Assembly was still awaiting official communication from the president on the subject matter.

“Uptill now, there is no communication from the presidency. Although we have read that they are waiting for approval from the federal executive council before sending a communication to us, no one Naira will be withdrawn from the federation account without the National Assembly approving it,” he said.

Rep. Namdas added that the House could include the request for the expenditure in the 2018 budget estimates if it receives the communication on time or in the alternative, the president can represents it as a supplementary budget for consideration by the legislature

He also announced that work on the 2018 budget had reached an advanced stage for its eventual passage within the month, adding that “the budget will be laid soon and passed before the end of the month.

“We will do everything humanly possible to pass it this April.”