President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly again met behind closed doors on Monday evening over issues arising from their differences on the 2013 budget as passed by the lawmakers.
The meeting, which held in one of the guest houses at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, our correspondent learnt, dwelt on ways to harmonise the different positions held by the two arms of government on the vexed issue.
Journalists were not allowed at the venue and no official statement was released at the end of the parley.
A source at the meeting said the need for a supplementary budget to be sent to the National Assembly as soon as possible was discussed.
An agreement was said to have been reached on the need for the National Assembly to give the supplementary budget an accelerated consideration when finally transmitted by the President.
It will be recalled that after a prolonged disagreement on some sections of the budget, Jonathan signed the fiscal document last week Tuesday on the eve of his trip to Côte D’Ivoire.
Contrary to the usual practice, the President signed the budget behind closed doors.
In the past, budget signing ceremonies were witnessed by journalists.
In announcing the signing of the budget, the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, issued a statement saying Jonathan signed after consultations and an agreement between the two arms of government.