Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,  Monday afternoon signed the 2017 budget of N7.441 trillion into law at an event witnessed by Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, among other top government functionaries.

The brief ceremony which took place in the Presidential Villa hours after Osinbajo was directed to sign the budget by recuperating President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari, according to Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, observed that it is in the interest of the nation’s economy for Acting President Osinbajo to sign the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Shehu quoted Buhari as saying that “the signing of the budget by the acting president would further buttress unity at the highest level of government.”

Shehu also stated that the President was delighted over the decision of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to submit 2018 budget proposals by October, while the National Assembly would conclude the Appropriation process by December 2017.

He said: “Following the receipt of full brief on the 2017 Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly, and to buttress the unity at the highest level of government, President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated that it is in the interest of the nation’s economy for the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to sign the Appropriation Bill into law.

“The President also said he was pleased by the joint resolution that the Executive would submit next year’s budget proposals by October 2017.”

President Buhari in a letter addressed to Budget Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma said  it is in the interest of the nation’s economy for the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to sign the 2017  Appropriation Bill into law.

An earlier report had indicated that Osinbajo will sign the 2017 budget into law by 3pm today.

This announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on New Media, Bamikole Omisore, on his social media handle @MrBanksOmisore.

Saraki, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara would join Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa for the signing of the budget, Omisore said.

“Today at 3:00pm Senate President @bukolasaraki will join AG @ProfOsinbajo for the signing of 2017budget at Presidential Villa in @AsoRock,” he wrote on his twitter handle.

The  National Assembly, NASS, had passed the budget on 11 May. Osinbajo was presented a copy by 19 May with the original figure ballooning to N7.441 trillion, from the N7.28trillion proposed by President Buhari.