The Senate has approved the supplementary budget President Muhammadu Buhari submitted before the Red Chamber.
While presenting the supplementary appropriation bill on Tuesday, Senator Danjuma Goje explained that the initial amount slated for the settlement of subsidy claims only covered January to September, therefore there was a need to include the months of October to December in the payments.
Hence, the increment of the budget from N465 billion to N574 billion.
Senate President Bukola Saraki had pushed the bill to the Senate committee on Appropriations after it passed through second reading in the house without debate on November 24.
Joining the debate on the bill on Tuesday, December 1, Ali Ndume, Senate leader, called on the committee on appropriations to investigate how the funds in the budget would be disbursed.
He also said that the senate’s hand was being forced into approving the budget because of the scarcity of fuel across the nation at the time of discussion.
Despite his misgivings, Ndume enjoined the Senate to approve the budget so that the sufferings of the citizens can be alleviated.
President Buhari sent the supplementary budget to the senate for approval on November 18.
Nigeria will borrow about N2.1 trillion to finance the budget and service debts.
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