The Nigerian Senate passed the sum of N98.5billion as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024.
The passage of the bill was a sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate committee on FCT during plenary on Tuesday, June 11.
The vice chairman of the committee, Senator Osita Ngwu presented the report on behalf of the chairman of the Committee Senator Bomai Mohammed.
Recall that the Senate had last week stepped down the bill for lacking detailed explanations.
Politics Nigeria reported that Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele presented the proposed estimates without breakdown of the funds or specifying projects which led to a rowdy session at the red chamber.
Senator Ede Dafinone and Senator Sani Musa objected, stressing that the supplementary budget fails to indicate how the funds will be utilised.
They therefore demanded further clarification on revenue generation and utilisation by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio then acknowledged the budget’s lack of details but asked the Senators to allow it scale second reading.
When put to a voice vote, the “nays” were loudest but he did not put the gravel to it.
The presiding officer quickly called the Senate leader to approach the chair, and the bill was subsequently stepped down to allow the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike provide detailed explanations on the specific projects tied to the funds.
The Senate leader thereafter told the lawmakers that the chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Ibrahim Bomai provided the details but the Senate resolved not to allow all senators to have a copy of the document for proper debate.
