President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday formally handed over the 2014 Budget to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Director, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, for implementation.
The handing over was said to have followed his signing the document into law on Wednesday.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone.
Abati said Okonjo-Iweala was not around when the President signed the budget two days ago, hence the need to formally hand over to her.
“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.
Immediately after handing over the document to the minister, Jonathan left Abuja 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.
He is due back in the country on Saturday after Zuma’s inauguration.