3D Electric powerlines over sunrise
National Assembly says it may adjust the 2021 Budget estimate to accommodate a take-off grant for $5.8 billion Mambilla Hydro-Electricity plant.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola, said the Assembly was concerned about the takeoff of the plant.
He said: “We are working round the clock to ensure that the 2021 Budget accommodates the take-off grant for the Mabilla Power Plant.
“This administration identified five key infrastructure/ projects for completion before the end of its tenure and Mambilla Power Plant is one of them. Others are Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway; Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the East-West Road and the second Niger Bridge.
“Only the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has sourced for $200m for the project but the Federal Government is yet to make take-off fund available. On this side of the divide, we cannot allow this project to suffer any further delay. This requires adjusting the budget for the take-off grant.” he noted
Senator Solomon Adeola explained that the N13.08 trillion budget may be passed by the National Assembly either in the first or second week of December.
He added: “In line with our legislative agenda and our promise to Nigerians to put in place a January-December budget cycle, we plan to pass the Appropriation Bill by the first or second week of December.
The committee chairman said “We also believe that there is need to prune down the cost of running the government. We want the government to implement the recommendations of Stephen Oronsaye Committee’s report on Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”