The Senate is set to approve the N2.18 trillion 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill on Thursday, as it was submitted for consideration by President Bola Tinubu.
Following Tinubu’s request, which was presented in a letter during the Senate’s plenary on Tuesday, the request received prompt attention.
The budgetary proposals outlined in the bill were debated, passed for a second reading, and the Committee on Appropriations was tasked with engaging with the heads of the affected agencies to defend the proposed allocations.
Senator Solomon Adeola, who chairs the committee and represents the All Progressives Congress for Ogun West, held discussions with the heads of the seven relevant agencies late into the evening on Wednesday. He informed journalists that the reports on the supplementary budget proposals would be submitted to the Senate for final consideration and passage on Thursday.
Adeola stated, “As mandated by the Senate on the strength of the request made by President Bola Tinubu, the Appropriations Committee has met with heads of the affected seven agencies supplementary budget proposals were provided for.
“Heads of each of the agencies have defended proposals made for them by the President and convinced the committee on the need for the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly to approve the N2.17tn 2023 supplementary budget.
“The committee has carried out the assignment given in line with the urgency required on the basis which reports for final consideration and passage of the bill, will be submitted to the Senate today (Thursday).”
During the committee’s meeting with the heads of the affected agencies, Minister Ahmed Dangiwa, responsible for Housing, justified the allocation of N100 billion in the supplementary budget for the Federal Ministry of Housing, emphasizing its utilization for the construction of housing estates nationwide.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike presented a defense for the N100 billion allocated in the supplementary budget for the Federal Capital Territory, with a specific allocation of N22 billion for the completion of the metro rail system.
To enhance security in the FCT, Wike informed the committee that all abandoned structures would be demolished to prevent them from becoming hideouts for criminals from neighboring states.
Other ministers, such as David Umahi (Minister of Works), Senator Abubakar Kyari (Minister of Agriculture and Food Security), Bello Matawale (Minister of State for Defence), and the service chiefs, also provided their justifications and proposals to the committee.
