Presidency: We Won’t Dispute Senate’s Decision To Reject $30b Loan Request

Senate-BuhariThe Presidency has said it will engage the Senate rather than dispute its decision to reject the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.9 billion.

The Senate on Tuesday rejected the president’s request to borrow $29.9 billion as part of the federal government’s external borrowing plan for 2016 to 2018.

The rejection of the loan request came as a shock to some observers considering the fact that Buhari’s party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has majority control in both chambers of the National Assembly.

Explaining the Senate’s decision, its leader, Ali Ndume, told journalists after plenary that the request was rejected due to the absence of certain documents that should have accompanied the president’s letter.

Speaking on the development, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that the Presidency would not be disputing with the Senate but would rather engage with them on the issue that had been raised.

“We are not disputing with the distinguished Senate.

“There are certain information and details which will enable them to consider in detail, and appropriately the request of Mr President.

“So we are collating that information. The Budget Office of the Federation, the Debt Management Office, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Finance and the economic team are collating the information so that it can be submitted to the Senate to enable them take the appropriate decision.

“We would be engaging the Senate. We will not be disputing with them but we will be engaging with them.

“When we present a matter before the legislature it is for them to consider and as they have considered, more information is needed and that information they are entitled to it and we would provide”, he said.