N2.18tr Supplementary Budget Passes 2nd Reading

By James Itodo

The Senate has given expeditious consideration to the N2.18 trillion supplementary budget forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.

President Tinubu had in a letter read in plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said the second supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year was needed for the additional wage bill for public servants, cash programme for vulnerable Nigerians, road infrastructure and security.

He requested the red chamber to fast track the bill for consideration and passage as done with the N819billion supplementary budget passed in June this year.

Accordingly, the Senate gave the request expeditious consideration by making it to pass second reading on the strength of lead debate made to that effect by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

During a general debate on the bill, many of the senators supported approval of the N2.18 trillion supplementary budget .

Specifically, the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, commended President Tinubu for seeking approval of the supplementary budget which according to him, is different from the earlier N819billion passed in June this year.

Sanni Musa (APC Niger East) said there was need to meet the security challenges and allocate funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the November election.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio in his remarks, commended the senators for supporting approval of the supplementary appropriation bill.

Edited By Grace Namiji