PMB Resumes, Gives Directives On Economy, Budget, Others (ti o ti wá lẹẹkansi)

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday resumed official duties after returning from a seven-week vacation in the United Kingdom.

Apparently burning in an unquenchable desire to speed up work from where he stopped, Buhari, who received briefings on the state of affairs so far in the country from his deputy, Vice President Osinbajo, issued some directives on areas pertaining to the nation’s economy, the 2017 budget and North East region, among other issues of national interest.

This was disclosed by Vice President Osinbajo after meeting behind closed doors with the president. The meeting which started at about 12:00pm yesterday lasted for over one hour.

Also, a terse statement by special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, noted yesterday that Buhari had already written to the leadership of the National Assembly, informing the legislature that he had resumed official duties.

“President Muhammadu Buhari today resumed duties after his vacation. In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President has formally transmitted letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives, intimating the National Assembly “that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, March 13, 2017, after my vacation”, Adesina stated.

Meanwhile, speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with the president yesterday, Osinbajo who noted that Buhari was “over ready” for work, having rested well over the weekend, said the president issued directives on certain issues bordering on governance, including the economy, the budget and the North East.

He said, “He (Buhari) is very well. We just had a very long meeting where we were basically trying to bring the president up to speed as to some of the things we have done while he was away and he has given a few directives on what we should be doing on so many areas: The North East, the budget, the economy and a wide range of issues.

“He held a meeting with me for over an hour where we discussed a wide range of issues. So, his readiness for work is not in doubt at all. In fact, he is over ready”.