The Senate on Thursday approved the N2.176 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget transmitted to the parliament by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday.
At the Senate, the budget was approved following the adoption of a report by the Appropriations Committee, presented by the chairman, Senator Adeola Olamilekan (Ogun West) during plenary.
Despite the unprecedented level of poverty and hardship in the country, the National Assembly approval include N5.095 billion for Presidential yacht, N1.5 billion for procurement of vehicles for the First Lady and also N3 billion for “acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation of two Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) fortified quarters as State House Complex” at Guzape and Mabushi respectively.
The breakdown shows ‘purchase of SUVs – N2.9 billion; replacement of operational pool vehicles -N2.9 billion; renovation of residential quarters for Mr President – N4 billion; renovation of Aguda House (Vice President’s residence) -N2.5 billion; computerization and digitalization of the State House – N200 million; construction of office complex within the State House – N4 billion; renovation of Dodan Barracks – official residence of Mr President – N4 billion; renovation of official quarters of Vice President in Lagos – N3 billion.
President Tinubu had, in a letter read in both chambers, 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 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 detail 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.”
At the House of Representatives, it was passed following the consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Appropriations as earlier laid by the chairman, Abubakar Bichi (Kano, APC).
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.
Heads of the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) 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.
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.