By Mohammed Danlami
The House of Representatives, Thursday June27, gave President Ahmed Bola Tinubu the nod to continue the implementation of the capital component of the 2023 budget and the 2023 supplementary budget till December 31st, 2024.
The decision of the House followed the passage into law of the 2023 Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 and the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 by the House as a result of a request from the President
A few minutes after the commencement of plenary on Thursday, June 27, and the introduction of the two bills by the House leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbare, the House dissolved into an executive session to deliberate on the request from the president to extend the life span of the capital component of the 2023 budget and the 2023 supplementary budget to 31st December 2024.
The passage of the two bills will be the third time the life span of the capital component of the budget and the supplementary budget will be extended.
The life span was first extended to March 31, 2024, and later extended again to June 30, 2024.
Leading the debate on the two bills, Ihonvbare described them as straightforward and aimed at ensuring the completion of all ongoing capital projects captured in the two documents.
But Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley China argued that while it is legally ok to extend the capital component of the budget, it is morally wrong to have about four budgets running simultaneously.
He argued that while they are not against completing capital projects in the budget, Nigerians are bound to ask questions on why the government should be extending the life span of the 2023 budget.
He said: “We cannot deny the fact that capital projects are important to the country and all of us. That is we may not oppose this so that the capital projects can continue.
“Currently, we have three budgets running and we are still expecting the 2024 supplementary budget from the President. One of the greatest undoing of the PDP is the lack of a budget circle. The process of having four budget running is not too good”
He said what needs to be done is for the House to step down the request and wait for the 2024 supplementary budget to be packaged by the government, articulate all the capital components contained in the budget and those not completed in the 2023 budget which will be put one document and passed.
Former Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa said while the House should approve the President’s request and extend the life span of the budget, the House needs to pass a message to the Presidency on why they should put their acts together.
Doguwa who threw his weight behind the argument of the minority, reminded his colleagues that whatever they do as lawmakers, they will be held accountable, adding that what the House is doing has never happened in the history of the country even though it is legal.
He said: “People out there will have questions and we must rise to the occasion. We have two budgets running concurrently. That may be legal, but moral questions will always be raised.
“I am in support of the amendment, but we must send a signal that not everything must fly. Fortunately for us, the Leader of government is one that we all trust. The matters raised are important to all Nigerians.”
The Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen appealed to members to allow the passage of the extension of the capital component to allow for procurement of items contained in it which he said are more security-related items.
