The Nigerian Senate has confirmed that it will on Thursday hold an emergency session to consider President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s supplementary budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which includes funding for the controversial presidential jet.
This was announced by Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), on Wednesday.
The supplementary budget comes amidst concerns over the country’s economic situation and the cost of acquiring a new presidential jet.
The Senate had initially adjourned for recess last week but will reconvene for the emergency session.
The Senate Spokesman said, “It’s our statutory resumption from the Sallah break. Senate has the constitutional power to regulate its sessions and we believe that we could gain one more legislative day to deal with national and constitutional issues, hence the bringing forward from the initial July 2.
“We hope to deal with issues concerning our further oversight on the appropriations and clear further the hanging issues of constitutional and electoral concerns. And clear outstanding bills and motions, expectedly before our annual recess, later in the year.”
The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence had recommended the purchase of new aircraft for the President and Vice President, citing the faulty and unsafe condition of the existing jets.
Already, the presidency had put three presidential jets up for sale.
