The senate was thrown into a rowdy session at Wednesday’s Plenary after some senators kicked against a request by President Muhammadu Buhari to approve N23.7 trillion already spent by the federal government without the National Assembly approval.
The parliament turned rowdy following a report by chairman of the finance committee, Solomon Olamilekan, on the president’s “way and means advances” request.
President Buhari had in a letter to the Senate last week, explained that
“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,”
Senator Betty Apiafi, shortly before the presentation of the report raised a point of order that the request was not constitutional.
But the President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan immediately ruled her out of order insisting that the report be presented first before any form of contribution to the matter .
Senator Thompson Sekibo, also citing the Constitution, CBN Act and the Senate standing orders urge the senate to step down the consideration of the report as it goes against the laws of the Country’s laws.
After his submission, the senate got rowdy again as the Senate President tried to restore calm to the parliament.
The Senate is currently in an Executive Session to debate further on the matter.
SENATE EXTENDS 2022 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION
The Senate on Wednesday extended the implementation of the 2022 capital budget till March 31, 2023.
This followed the consideration and passage of a “bill for an Act to amend the 2022 Appropriation Act in order to extend the implementation year from 31st December 2022 to 31st March 2023 and for related matters, 2022.”
The Senate, however, suspended its standing order 70 to enable it to read the Bill for the first, second and third time before its passage.
The Executive Bill was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ibrahim Gobir.
He said it became necessary to extend the implementation of the capital appropriation for 2022 in order to allow for the completion of ongoing projects.
Gobir said the development followed a delay in the release of funds for the implementation of the capital component of the 2022 budget.
