Human Right Activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, has admonished the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo not to sign the 2017 budget. The radical lawyer who made the statement in Ilorin, Kwara State, questioned the powers of the National Assembly to increase its own share of the 2017 budget submitted by the President.
He averred that since they lack such power constitutionally “We are therefore calling on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a professor of law not to endorse and sign the illegal appropriation bill of 2017 into law.”
Falana further maintained that the question of who would sign the budget should not arise since the President, before proceeding to London for a follow-up medical attention had transmitted a letter to the National Assembly, transferring all executive powers to the Vice President who becomes an acting President thereafter.
He said from the minute the letter was transmitted, President Muhammadu Buhari was no longer competent to sign the 2017 budget into law or act in that capacity until another letter is transmitted to the National Assembly.
He said, “The President is not competent to sign any bill into law while he is on vacation. The constitution did not envisage that a President who is on a vacation and an acting president, who is standing proxy for him will be exercising presidential powers simultaneously. To that extent, pending the resumption of duties by President Buhari, the Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo, is competent to sign all bills validly passed by the NASS"
