Senators kick as Buhari requests approval for N23.7trn extra-budgetary spending

The senate on Wednesday went into a rowdy session after some senators kicked against a request by President Muhammadu Buhari to approve N23.7 trillion already spent by the federal government without approval by the national assembly.

The rowdiness began after Solomon Olamilekan, chairman of the finance committee, presented a report on the president’s “way and means advances” request.

“Ways and means windows is used by the government when there is a need for cash intervention,” Olamilekan said.

“It is normal. We should even commend the federal government. The sum spans across over 10 years. They have agreed to forward the document to the committee on or before Friday.”

As Olamilekan continued his presentation, Betty Apiafi, senator representing Rivers west, raised a point of order stating that the request was not constitutional.

But Senate President Ahmad Lawan ruled her out of order, saying: “Let him present his report first… I’m not preventing anyone from speaking.”

His comment elicited uproar as most of the senators engaged in heated debate.

When order finally returned to the chamber after about 10 minutes, Lawan asked Thompson Sekibo, senator representing Rivers east, to speak on the matter.

Citing a constitutional point of order, Sekibo reiterated Apiafi’s stance, explaining that the request was not in line with the constitution.

“It will be a disservice that we have spent that money on behalf of Nigerians,” the senator said.

“It will be wrong for this senate to approve this without details of how the money was spent.”

After his submission, the rowdiness resumed and Lawan — again — had to intervene. The senate president then asked Ibrahim Gobir and Philip Aduda, the majority and minority leaders, respectively, to approach the dias.

As they approached him, the situation worsened and Lawan quickly called for a closed session.

Last week, the president had written to the senate, seeking approval for the “ways and means advances”.

“The ways and means advances by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the federal government has been a funding option to the federal government to cater for short term or emergency finance to fund delayed government expected cash receipt of physical deficit,” Buhari had said.

“The ways and means, balances as at 19th December 2022 is N22.7 trillion.”