NASS Begins Deliberation on the FG’s N2.1 Trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget Bill
The National Assembly (NASS) has begun deliberation of the Federal Government’s N2.1 trillion 2023 supplementary budget bill.
President Tinubu forwarded the bill to the national assembly, after the supplementary budget was approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday during its meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The proposed N2.1 trillion budget bill is to finance N18 billion statutory transfer, N992.8 billion recurrent expenditure and N1.16 trillion capital expenditure.
Tinubu in his request read during the Tuesday’s plenary of the senate and House of Representatives, asked the lawmakers to approve the bill to meet urgent additional spending before December 2023.
The bill scaled second reading in the both chambers, and referred to the appropriation committee for further legislative action.
Read Also:
NBC Sends Bill to NASS Seeking To Regulate Social Media
Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, said the budget was necessary for the off cycle elections in three states.
It is better to appropriate the money so that INEC will start preparation on time, he added.
Senator Abdul Ningi said the budget based on the president letter would capture the minimal requirements of the security agencies.
According to him, the fund when appropriated, the committees of the Senate should ensure that they carry out oversights.
“The students loan should reflect the interest of the 36 states of the federation,” he added.
Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) expressed delight that the budget would not be funded from the ways and means but with the foreign exchange differential.
Senator Sumaila Kawu expressed reservation on the students’ loan.
He added, “We need to satisfy the needs of our constituency. There should transparency. The criteria for accessing the loans is cumbersome. There should legislative input into the scheme before its implementation.”
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended Tinubu for bringing the supplementary bill to address inflation, working population, students and decay infrastructure.
