From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Senate, has on Tuesday passed N6.2trn 2024 Appropriation Act Amendment Bill, presented for consideration by President Bola Tinubu on July 17.
This is sequel to the presentation and adoption of a report of the Committee on Appropriations on the bill by its Chairman, Senator Solomon Olamilekan .
Senator Olamilekan, in his presentation said out of the N6.2 trillion, N3.2 trillion was for capital expenditure, while N3 trillion was for recurrent expenditure.
He said the 2024 appropriation act amendment bill sought to make available, additional funds for the renewed hope Infrastructure development projects, to be undertaken across the country.
Secondly, the bill was also designed to meet other recurrent expenditure requirements such as the minimum wage increase and other necessary effective governance of the Country.
Olamilekan, said, the committee in the course of processing the bill consulted widely with other critical stakeholders and significantly deliberated with Minister of Budget and Economic Planning on sources of funding the projects.
The lawmaker added that, the additional expenditure contained in the amendment bill would be financed by the one-time windfall tax on banks’ foreign exchange profits for year 2023 as approved by the National Assembly.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, commended the Chairman of the committee on appropriations and members for their input on the bill.
He prayed that the amendment would enable Nigeria to reach its eldorado and bring about the renewed hope and stem the tide of protest by the labour union.
Akpabio, commended President Bola Tinubu, for the agreement reached in the minimum wage saga, while praying that Nigeria would be better with the amendment on the budget.
He equally, congratulated the lawmakers for their contributions, cooperation, saying that it was sacrificial to the development of the nation.
