The Senate and the House of Representatives have resolved to extend the implemention period of the capital component of N21.83 trillion 2023 budget as well as the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget.
Consequently, the two Chambers of the nation’s apex legislative institution, will on Thursday hold emergency sessions, to enable the lawmakers legislate on the proposed extension.
The two Chambers had in December 2023, extended the implementation period of capital component of the budget for the fiscal year from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024 along with the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary budget, which they passed in November, 2023.
It is also pertinent to note that President Bola Tinubu had also asked both Chambers to carry out further extension in March this year, and they accordingly extended the implementation period for the budgetary appropriations from March 31, 2024 to June 30, 2024 on 19th and 20th March this year respectively.
However, with four days to 30th June 2024, earlier fixed as end of implementation period for the affected budgetary appropriations, the two Chambers, now fixed Thursday to hold separate sessions, where further extensions would be made ahead of their earlier resumption date of July 2, 2024.
Confirming the proposed emergency session in a telephone conversation with journalists on Wednesday, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), said that the session would be majorly on budgetary appropriations.
Meanwhile, asked whether extension of implementation period for capital component of 2023 budget would be considered, he pointed out that varied issues requiring urgent legislative attention, would be deliberated upon.
He said: “The Senate shall be dwelling on wide range of issues at its plenary on Thursday, particularly those on budgetary appropriations vis-a-vis legislative compliance.
“Bills on 2024 Supplementary Appropriation and New National Minimum Wage are out of it ,since they are yet to be forwarded for consideration and passage by President Bola Tinubu.”
He also explained that the emergency session for Thursday, falls in line with Senate’s constitutional power to regulate its sessions which according to him, would make it, deal with national and constitutional issues earlier than hitherto scheduled.
Some other Senators contacted, hinted that, requests for further extension of implementation period for the capital component of the N21.83 trillion 2023 budget and N2.17 trillion supplementary budget for the fiscal year, might have been forwarded by President Tinubu to both Chambers of the National Assembly for consideration and approval during the emergency session.
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