There is disagreement among lawmakers in the House of Representatives over President Bola Tinubu’s request to extend the 2023 capital component of the Appropriation Act and the Supplementary Appropriation Act until December 31.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the request has split the lawmakers along party lines, with opposition members loudly opposing the extension.
The disagreement forced the lawmakers into an executive session.
President Tinubu’s request seeks to allow for the full implementation of the law, but opposition lawmakers argue that the extension is unnecessary and amounts to a waste of resources.
The controversy surrounds the N21.8 trillion budget inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari, which suffered during the transition period.
It is understood that many projects in the 2023 budget were not funded, and the new administration is seeking to revive them.
Additionally, a N819 billion supplementary budget was inherited, which was later amended to include a N70 billion package for the National Assembly and N500 billion for palliatives and capital expenditures.
In October 2023, President Tinubu sent a N2.17 trillion supplementary budget to the National Assembly, citing insecurity as the main reason. However, a review of the budget revealed frivolous items, including N28 billion for luxury cars and the renovation of the president’s residence.
The Acts were initially extended on December 31, 2023, for three months, and later to March 30, 2024. Furthermore, another of President Tinubu’s requests sought to extend them until June 30, 2024. The House passed the bills through all three stages on the same day.
