Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma has refuted claims made by majority leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume that he (Udoma) refused to honour the Senate’s invitation.

Ndume while lamenting the delay in the consideration of the 2017 budget on the floor of the Senate on Thursday had claimed that Udoma’s refusal to appear before the Senate was the reason behind the delay of the budget.

But Udoma in a statement by his media adviser, Akpandem James on Friday acknowledged getting a letter to a meeting which was later rescheduled.

He expressed surprise at why Ndume would go on the floor of the upper legislative chamber to say he failed to turn up, even as he was aware the meeting was rescheduled.

The statement read in part, “While acknowledging receipt of the letter from Senator Ndume inviting him for a meeting with the Senate leadership, the Minister said the meeting was eventually moved by agreement; and wondered why Senator Ndume would go on the floor of the upper legislative chamber to say he failed to turn up, when he was aware that the meeting was rescheduled.”

Azeez