June 29, (THEWILL) – President Buhari has written the House of Representatives to seek approval of a N894.842 billion supplementary budget to fund the purchase of COVID-19 drugs and weapons for the Armed Forces.
The request had last week’s Tuesday been tabled before the Senate, which mandated its Committee on Appropriations to look into it.
Both chambers must agree on all budgetary matters to give the Executive the mandate to draw such funds.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, and read at Tuesday’s plenary, the President said the supplementary budget is limited to some critical needs, stressing other needs will be contained in the 2022 budget..
The President said COVID-19 drugs will be procured from the supplementary budget as the Federal Government intends to vaccinate about 70 percent eligible Nigerians before the end of 2022.
He however disclosed that the 2022 Appropriation Bill will be presented to the National Assembly in September
Meanwhile, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, directed the Senate Committee on Appropriations to submit its report on the N894.842 billion Supplementary Budget unfailingly on Wednesday.
The directive by Lawan followed a request by Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations, Barau Jibrin, for more time to enable the panel conclude its work.
Lawan noted that it is unnecessary for the committee to ask for more time since the supplementary budget only pertains to two sectors of security and health.
He said the report needed to be submitted in view of myriads of other Bills and reports that required the Senate’s attention at this time.
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