Senate passes bills seeking to extend 2022 budget capital components till June 30

The senate has passed two bills seeking to extend the implementation of the capital components of the 2022 budget till June 30.

The 2022 appropriation act (amendment) bill and the 2022 supplementary appropriation act (amendment) bill are those that passed the reading.

In the revised 2022 budget passed in April last year, the national assembly earmarked N5.4 trillion for capital expenditure.

The bills which went through first, second, and third readings on Tuesday were sponsored by Ibrahim Gobir, senate leader.

Gobir presented a report on the legislation.

While presenting his report on the floor of the upper legislative chamber, the senate leader said though the capital component of the budget had been extended to March before, it is being shifted till June to ensure “full implementation” of the provision.

President Muhammadu Buhari had requested the national assembly to do so.

Contributing to the debate, Gabriel Suswam, senator representing Benue north-east, said the 2022 and 2023 budgets should run concurrently, warning that anything different would create a gap.

Responding to the submission, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said Suswam’s concern was “not that serious”.

“What the executive is asking is to extend the life span of the implementation of the 2022 budget, and that does not in any way affect the implementation of the 2023 budget,” Lawan said. “That is my understanding.”

Thereafter, the bill was passed for second reading and referred to the “committee of supply” where it was eventually passed for third reading.