In a dramatic turn of events, the House of Representatives on Thursday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to extend the capital component of the 2023 Appropriation Act and the Supplementary Appropriation Act until December 31.
The approval came after a closed-door session, which followed a heated debate and opposition from some lawmakers. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas had earlier read Tinubu’s request to the House, stating that the extension would enable his administration to fully implement the two budgets.
The extension affects the N21.8 trillion 2023 Budget and the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget, which are running concurrently with the N27.5 trillion 2024 Budget.
Despite initial opposition, the bill was swiftly passed through all stages within 20 minutes after the closed-door meeting. The Speaker assured that the concerns of opposing lawmakers would be presented to Tinubu.
This development allows the Tinubu administration to implement the budgets fully, but raises questions about the implications for the country’s fiscal management.
