Senate Speedily Passes N2.176trn Supplementary Budget, Cites Dry Season As Reason

The Nigerian Senate has post-haste approved the N2.176 trillion 2023 supplementary budget which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted to the upper legislative chambers on Tuesday.

The parliament passed the 2023 Supplementary Appropriations Bill on Thursday after accepting the report from the Senate’s synchronised sessions with the House of Representatives on the budget document.

While presenting the report, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC Ogun West) said there is a need for the country to take advantage of the coming dry season to implement critical projects like road construction, hence the need for the budget to pass speedily.

Tinubu had, in a letter read in both chambers on Tuesday, asked the federal lawmakers to approved the proposal, the second of such this year after N819.5 billion was approved to provide palliatives for poor Nigerians.

The 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.

Prime Business Africa reports that detail of the 2023 supplementary budget indicate that while N1.010.802,015,985 was for Recurrent expenditure, N1.165,989,270,049 is to be spent on Capital expenditure.