The House of Representatives has approved an additional N6.2 trillion in spending for the 2024 budget.
The decision follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent request for the budget amendment through a bill to amend the 2024 Appropriations Act.
The bill, which was introduced last week, swiftly passed its second reading and was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Appropriations for further scrutiny and legislative action.
The approval of the bill came after the consideration of a detailed report submitted by the committee chairman, Abubakar Bichi, during the House plenary session on Tuesday.
President Tinubu had last Wednesday, requested the Senate to amend the 2024 Appropriation Act, and the 2023 Finance Act by increasing the budget with ₦6.2 trillion.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Wednesday.
The president in the letter, said the move was under Section 58, sub-section two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“I forward herewith the above bills for consideration and passage by the Senate.
“The Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to amend the principal Act to provide the sum of ₦3.2 trillion for Renewed Hope infrastructure projects and other critical infrastructure projects to be undertaken across the country.
“And the sum of ₦3 trillion to meet further recurrent expenditure requirements, necessary for the proper operation by the Federal Government expenditure, which is to be funded by expected revenue accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the letter read.
