Nigerians Made us Fast-Track N2.17 Trillion Supplementary Budget Approval – Senator Ali Ndume

The Senate accelerated the approval of the N2.17 trillion Supplementary Appropriation Bill because of the hardships faced by citizens, Senator Ali Ndume has said. The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, shared these insights during a press briefing held in Abuja on Saturday.

The urgency with which the bill was processed was described as a patriotic duty, with the Senate suspending certain rules to ensure swift passage after President Bola Tinubu submitted the appropriation bill to the National Assembly just days earlier.

Senator Ndume explained, “The rise in fuel prices, essential service costs, and food items, brought on by the removal of fuel subsidies, had sparked worker strikes and negotiations with organized labor unions. An agreement was reached to provide an additional N35,000 to over 1.5 million workers, a significant sum which found its place in the supplementary budget.”

Furthermore, public outcry surrounding increased tuition fees for tertiary education prompted the government to introduce a loan program for students. Consequently, N5.5 billion was allocated in the supplementary budget to fund this initiative.

Regarding the allocation of funds initially intended for the purchase of the Presidential Yacht, Senator Ndume clarified, “Both chambers of the National Assembly deliberated and resolved to increase the allocation to N10 billion for student loans. The N5 billion for the presidential yacht had been removed from the budget prior to public objections. The Navy had requested these funds to enhance their operations in combating oil bunkering and crude theft in the Niger Delta.”

The budget also addressed the needs of newly created ministries, agricultural initiatives, and funding for off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states by the Independent National Electoral Commission, amounting to N18 billion. In addition, the Nigerian Police Force, tasked with supervising the elections, received N20 billion to facilitate their operations.

Support for the military was also a priority, with the Nigerian Army allocated additional resources for the daily duty allowance of soldiers across the nation. The housing sector received N100 billion to address urban housing deficits, and the Federal Ministry of Works received N300 billion for road maintenance during the dry season.

Remarkably, the supplementary budget showed a commitment to equitable development, with each geopolitical zone in Nigeria receiving N8 billion for road repairs. The State House received N28 billion, with a focus on maintaining the presidential fleet, rather than acquiring new aircraft.

Senator Ndume assured that the Senate had thoroughly reviewed these allocations, emphasizing that the funds were crucial for addressing pressing national needs and concerns.