The National Assembly has given its nod to the N2.176 trillion 2023 supplementary budget proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The approval came following the adoption of a report by the Appropriations Committee, presented by Senator Adeola Olamilekan, Chairman of the committee, during plenary in the Senate.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that this supplementary budget is the second in the year, with the initial one of N819.5 billion aimed at providing palliatives for vulnerable Nigerians.
President Tinubu, in his letter to the National Assembly, emphasized the need for additional palliative measures, including wage awards for public servants and an enhanced Cash Transfer Programme to support the most vulnerable members of society.
READ ALSO: Two Dead as Powerful Storm Ravages France, Spain, England
The president, in his letter, said it has become necessary to make further provision for additional palliative measures, including the wage award for public servants and the enhanced Cash Transfer Programme which is intended to benefit the most vulnerable members of society.
“In addition, critical defence expenditures are also urgently required to provide for peace and the security of lives and property without which the government’s economic growth agenda cannot be achieved.
“Similarly, critical investments are also required to construct much needed infrastructure, particularly roads, which projects must be commenced within the (dry season) period between now and the end of the year,” he added.
A breakdown of the 2023 Supplementary budget indicated that, N1.010.802,015,985 was for Recurrent expenditure while N1.165,989,270,049 was for Capital expenditure.”
In the House of Representatives, the budget was passed after thorough consideration and adoption of the report presented by Abubakar Bichi, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations.
READ ALSO: Police kill suspected kidnapper in Plateau, rescue 6 victims
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen who presided the session passed the supplementary budget clause by clause considerations and adoption of the report during the Committee on Supply.
The supplementary budget which was read for the first time on Tuesday was passed for second reading in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The budget has a capital component of N1.165 trillion and a recurrent component of N1.010 trillion.
The breakdown of the allocations to sectors and agencies shows that, Service Wide Vote takes the lion share of N615 billion followed by the Ministry of Defence with N476.5 billion while Federal Ministry of Works gets N300 billion.
The State House is to gulp 28 billion; the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security gets N200 billion; Ministry of Housing, N100 billion; Department of State Services, N49 billion while the FCTA gets N100 billion.
Also, Police formations and commands were allocated N50 billion; Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), N29.7 billion; Capital supplementation was allocated N210 billion while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gets N18 billion.
Also, the heads of the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) to benefit from the N2.176 trillion supplementary budget had on Wednesday appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to defend their submissions.
READ ALSO: Saudi Arabia announces $13m in aid for Gaza
Among those present at the defence include, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Minister of Housing, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa; the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu and the service chiefs, among others.
The various heads of agencies during the defence gave justifications for their submissions and solicited the approval of the National Assembly to enable them execute projects that will impact the lives of the citizens.