The 2023 Appropriation Bill has passed the second reading at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers passed the bill after debate on the general principles of the budget proposal during the house plenary presided by the Deputy Speaker Alh Ahmad Idris Wase.
The 2023 Appropriation Bill tagged budget of Fiscal Sustainability and Transition amounting to 20.51 trillion naira was laid down before the joint session of the National Assembly by president Muhammadu Buhari friday last week.
The house later adjourned to 15th November, 2022, to allow the various committees of the house to commence budget defense session with ministries, departments and agencies of government.
In his lead debate, the house leader Alhaji Alhassan Ado Doguwa, lauded Present Buhari’s administration for sustaining hundred percent budget implementation and the achievements so far in the areas of security, infrastructure and economic diversification.
Similarly a member from Osun State Mrs Taiwo Oluga, appealed to the government to put more effort in curtailing the activities of oil theft which led the country to lose 470 barrels a day, amounting to 700 million dollars monthly.
In his submission, the house spokesman Mr Benjamin Kalu, confirmed that the nation’s economy is seriously bleeding due to revenue leakages in various sectors and called for urgent steps to arrest the situation.
Dr Tanko Sununu a member from Kebbi state, was of the opinion that the 2023 budget must accord priority to environmental challenges and production sector to boost the nation’s economy and job opportunities.
The Deputy Chief Whip, Mrs Nkireuka Onyejeocha, advocated more emphasis on budget tracking to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
Other members who contributed during the debate, expressed concern over the heavy borrowing to finance the budget and high provision in the personel cost of the budget.
After the debate the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, referred the bill to the Committee on Appropriation for further legislative work.
COV : TSIBIRI
