The Minister of of Works, Housing Agriculture, FCT, State for Defence and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu have appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation to justify the N2.177 trillion supplementary budget.
During the budget defense, the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Bichi (APC-Kano), clarified that the N2,176,791,286,033 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, submitted to the National Assembly, was designed to enhance the country’s security, food security, critical road infrastructure, and address the housing deficit, including slum upgrades and urban renewal. The budget also aims to provide support for workers’ wages, cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians, and upcoming off-cycle elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States.
He detailed the allocation of funds for various sectors, including the Ministry of Defence, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Police Formations and Commands, the office of the National Security Adviser, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT), Department of State Services (DSS), State House, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Housing, Service Wide Vote, Capital supplementation, and Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).
Hon. Bichi explained that the Committee would invite relevant government agencies to provide more information and defend their budget proposals. After a thorough analysis, a report will be presented to the House, with a focus on non-security agencies first, followed by security agencies.
The Chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, pointed out that although the FCT administration requested N300 billion, only N100 billion was initially sent for legislative approval. He assured that the remaining N200 billion would be considered during the 2024 budget defense.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, highlighted the need for additional funds due to 11 recent vacancies in the national and state assemblies, primarily caused by deaths and resignations. He explained the budget allocation for the conduct of by-elections, including three off-cycle governorship elections, totaling N1.6 billion.
Other ministers and officials who appeared before the Committee on Appropriation included the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi; Minister of Defence, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari; Director of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; and the Service Chiefs, among others.
The Committee on Appropriation is expected to present its report on the budget defense to the House on Thursday for final legislative approval.