President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will ensure the judicious application of the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget just signed into law.
The budget, according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, is to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and address Nigeria’s critical infrastructure deficit, amongst other considerations.
President Tinubu, who gave the assurance on Wednesday, November 8, during a brief signing ceremony at the State House, Abuja, also lauded the National Assembly for the swift consideration and passage of the budget.
Meanwhile, minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the federal government has assigned 32% of the just signed budget to the wage award for federal civil servants, while 30% goes to defense and security.
The wage award is part of the administration’s means of cushioning the harsh effects of fuel subsidy removal.
A statement issued at the end of the budget signing ceremony, by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said 35% will fund critical infrastructure under ministries like Works, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as Housing and Urban Development.
“Providing a breakdown of the supplementary budget, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, said the newly approved expenditure for defence and security consists of about thirty percent, while thirty-five percent is dedicated to the provision of critical infrastructure to be allocated to the Federal Ministries of Works, the Federal Capital Territory, and Housing & Urban Development.
“The Minister further explained that thirty-two percent of the supplementary budget was allocated to the new Wage Award for treasury-paid federal workers to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, in addition to cash transfers to vulnerable persons, and support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), amongst other considerations.
“President Tinubu commended the National Assembly for its expeditious consideration and approval, assuring Nigerians that the executive arm of government would ensure the judicious use of the budgeted resources”, the statement said
The president signed the Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2023, in his office at the State House in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume; Majority Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele; the Chairmen of the Appropriation Committees in the Senate, Sen. Olamilekan Adeola, and the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Bichi, as well as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).”