Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says as head of the nation’s economic management team, President Muhammadu Buhari allows him call the shots in matters pertaining to the economy.
Osinbajo made the revelation on Tuesday during an interactive session with select journalists inside his Aguda House residence at the presidential villa.
Pulse was in the building as always.
A school of thought has often suggested that an ailing Buhari is weak on economic matters; an area of governance which is perceived as Osinbajo’s strong suit.
“I control macro-economic policy as Chairman of the economic management team”, Osinbajo said.
He added that; “Of course you know that the Central Bank of Nigeria is autonomous. The apex bank decides monetary policy, and the economy as you know, is quite enormous.
“There are other sub-units in the management of the economy and as you’ll expect, managing the economy is a minute by minute enterprise and that’s what I do.
“My role is to support the President and we are a team. The President works with me as member of the team. We meet regularly and agree on policies.
“The President has given me enough room to work with him, meet with him”, Osinbajo said, adding that he regularly compares notes with his principal.
On allegations that the Buhari presidency is shielding allegedly corrupt officials in the administration–noticeably Secretary to the Government of the federation, Babachir Lawal–Osinbajo said that isn’t the case.
Lawal has been accused by the senate of corruptly enriching himself from funds set aside to develop a war ravaged north east region.
Osinbajo said all the President did was heed the advice of his Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, on the matter.
According to Osinbajo, the President only asked for fair hearing and due process from the Senate, as it concerns Lawal–as suggested by Malami.
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