ABUJA-Presidency, Sunday, said that the report in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari upon his return from London on a medical trip scaled down his work-load to get some rest was totally false.

It said that Buhari’s resumption week was activity-packed, saying that he never recorded absent for one day.

The President’s Media Aide, Mallam Garba Shehu made the refutation in an interview with Pyramid Radio in Kano State, of which the details were later made available to newsmen.

He said: “In the first week of his return, President Buhari walked his talk on his intense desire to pay back to Nigerians by way keeping their trust and serving their interests.

Prseident Muhammadu Buhari

“His reply to the people for their support and trust is to work much harder for them.

“The President didn’t have a day off or even a light week at all throughout his week of resumption,” he said.

Reacting to a question of what the President’s engagements in his first week after the London trip was, Shehu said the president had time, treating policy issues even when he retired back home.

He added that the President took briefings from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also met with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara amongst others.

“I read those analyses and I believe they were mostly wrong. What they don’t understand is that the President doesn’t follow official working hours because he is on duty all the time. He has another office by his living room. So, he works from home when most civil servants have closed.

“He started on Monday with the letters he sent to the two arms of the parliament signifying his return to work. He then went in for a handover briefing by the Vice President. They had a lot to discuss between themselves. Although he gave specific mandates to the Acting President, he needed to be brought up to speed on the developments in the Supreme Court, the Niger Delta, the economy with particular reference to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERPG which was launched in his absence and programs like the Small and medium Enterprises Clinic which have strong connections to the agricultural strategy of the administration.”

“On Tuesday the President followed up his meeting with the Vice President getting details from the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the liquidity situation of the country, the issue of reserves and the outlook for the rest of the year.

“He then met with the Presiding Officials of the parliament, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara. Those two arms have dealt with the issue of his vacation with great sensitivity.

“On Wednesday, the President presided at the Federal Executive Council.

“The noticeable thing about the last meeting was that it dwelled on policy. The meeting didn’t discuss contracts.

“On Thursday, the President had a joint sitting with the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, the Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and that of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma. They discussed the country’s economic situation, the progress on the 2017 budget and liquidity issues.

“On the same day, he held a state-of-nation meeting with Governors who had assembled for the routine meeting of the National Economic Council under the Vice President.

“Friday was used mostly for security briefing before the Juma’at prayers. The President has big ambitions for the country, driven by an intense desire to leave his mark on national affairs. This is as he said on his return last”, he explained.