The Senate and the House of Representatives today extended the implementation of the 2023 Appropriation Act and the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act till December 31, 2024.
The extensions in essence mean that the capital components of the 2023 Appropriation Act/2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act will run concurrently with the implementation of the capital allocation in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
The resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration of the request of President Bola Tinubu, urging the red chamber to approve the further extension.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had read Tinubu’s letter of request during plenary.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, urged the Senate to suspend its relevant rules to consider the Bills expeditiously.
He said: “You will recall that on Wednesday20th March 2024, these Acts were amended to allow for exhaustive implementation of capital projects under the Acts to 30th June 2024. The extension will expire on Sunday 30th June 2024 and many projects are yet to be completed.”
The House of Representatives also today passed into law of the 2023 Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 and the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 following a request from the president.
A few minutes after the commencement of plenary on Tuesday, June 25, and the introduction of the two bills by the House leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbare, the House dissolved into an executive session to deliberate on the request from the president to extend the life span of the capital component of the 2023 budget and the 2023 supplementary budget to 31st December 2024.
The passage of the two bills will be the third time the life span of the capital component of the budget and the supplementary budget will be extended.
The life span was first extended to March 31, 2024, and later extended again to June 30, 2024.
Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley China argued that while it is legally ok to extend the capital component of the budget, it is morally wrong to have about four budgets running simultaneously.
He argued that while they are not against completing capital projects in the budget, Nigerians are bound to ask questions on why the government should be extending the life span of the 2023 budget.
Former Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa said while the House should approve the President’s request and extend the life span of the budget, the House needs to pass a message to the Presidency on why they should put their acts together.
