Jonathan reacts to impeachment threat

FROM: Ben Agande, Abuja.

THE Presidency, yesterday, reacted to the failed impeachment threat by House of Representatives on President Goodluck Jonathan over budget implementation saying the concerns raised by the House were in sync with those of the President.

Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Dr.. Reuben Abati said that President Jonathan was on the same page with the House of Representatives on the need for efficient budget implementation.

He said there was no conflict between the two arms of government, noting that the President was also concerned about budget implementation.

*Jonathan

Abati noted that President Jonathan had impressed it on his ministers that his administration lays premium on budget performance, adding that based on the President’s directive, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had  presented a detailed report of the level of performance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies which formed the basis for discussion at the general meeting.

He said: “The House and the President are on the same page on budget implementation. Just as the House is concerned, Mr. President is concerned too. What happened today (yesterday) in the House was ironic and a big coincidence because two ministries: interior and police affairs, were in the Villa to make presentations on their key performance index.

“Each ministry came with all the parastatals under it and presented their KPI in relation to Budget 2012. They were required to state their mandates, the money they collected under Budget 2012, their level of performance and their challenges if any and then define their next steps. After each presentation, there was robust discussion.”