By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed the N2.17trn 2023 Supplementary Budget, which was recently passed by the National Assembly.
The President signed the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act at the Presidential Villa, Abuja in the presence of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass.
Those standing with the President at the brief signing ceremony, which was held in his office, included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji.
READ ALSO:Tinubu leaves Abuja to attend Saudi-Africa summit in Riyadh
Others at the signing were Senate Leader, Sen Opeyemi Bamidele; and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Olamilakan Adeola.
Some items on the supplementary budget had generated controversy and sparked outrage, especially the aspects relating to luxury items, particularly about the needs of the Nigerian Presidency.
The items include the request for N4bn for the renovation of the residential quarters for the President in Abuja; renovation of the residential quarters of the Vice President (Abuja) N2.5bn; renovation of Dodan Barracks, Lagos, official residence of the President– N4bn; renovation of official quarters of the VP (Lagos) – N3bn; construction of office complex in the Presidential Villa– N4bn; purchase of presidential yacht– N5bn; purchase of vehicles for the Office of First Lady– N1.5bn; purchase of SUVs for the Presidential Villa– N2.9bn; and replacement of operational vehicles for the Presidency– N2.9bn.
But Bagudu had after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of October 30, 2023, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, said the largest chunk of N2.176trn (N605bn) was going into security, to further enhance the capacity of the nation’s defence and the security agencies to sustain gains of security.
Others include N200bn for supply of agricultural production, N300bn for repairs of bridges including Eko and Third Mainland bridges as well as construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of many roads nationwide before the return of the rainy season.
The supplementary budget also includes the sum of N210bn for the payment of wage Awards.
Bagudu had said, “In negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress, the federal government agreed to pay N35,000 each to about 1.5 million employees of the federal government, and that amounts from September, October, November, and December 2023.”
He had also said N400bn of the fund is set aside for cash transfer to vulnerable and poor Nigerians for the period October and November.
