By Louis Achi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the 2023 supplementary budget of N2.17 trillion into law to address Nigeria’s urgent security and economic needs.
He signed the Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2023 in his office at the State House in the presence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Minister of Budget and Economic planning, Atiku Bagudu and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji.
Others at the signing were Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Olamilakan Adeola.
Some items on the supplementary budget had generated controversy and sparked outrage, especially the aspects relating to luxury items, particularly with regard to the needs of the Nigerian Presidency.
Some of these include the request for N4 billion for the renovation of the residential quarters for the President in Abuja; renovation of the residential quarters of the Vice President (Abuja) – N2.5 billion; renovation of Dodan Barracks, Lagos, official residence of the President – N4 billion; renovation of official quarters of the VP (Lagos) – N3 billion; construction of office complex in the Presidential Villa – N4 billion; purchase of presidential yacht – N5 billion; purchase of vehicles for the Office of First Lady – N1.5 billion; purchase of SUVs for the Presidential Villa – N2.9 billion; and replacement of operational vehicles for the Presidency – N2.9 billion.
But Bagudu had after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), of October 30, 2023 presided over by President Bola Tinubu, said the largest chunk of N2,176,791,286,033 (N605 billion) 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 N200 billion for supply of agricultural production, N300 billion for repairs of bridges including Eko and 3rd 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 N210 billion 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 amount from September, October, November and December 2023.”
He had also said N400 billion of the fund is set aside for cash transfer to vulnerable and poor Nigerians for the period October and November.
