Senate extends 2022 budget implementation by another 3 months

Senate on Tuesday further extended implementation of the capital component of the 2022 Appropriation Act by another three months which would run from March 31, 2023 to June 30.

This was even as the upper legislative chamber approved the implementation of the 2022 supplementary budget of N819.5 billion till June 30, 2023, which will run concurrently with the 2023 budget.

It had on December 28, 2022 first extended the implementation of the budget till March 31 this year after the National Assembly had approved N17.12 trillion for the 2022 fiscal year in December 2021.

The resolution to extend the budget by another three months was sequel to a request by President Muhammadu Buhari for the consideration and passage of a bill for an Act to amend the 2022 Appropriation Act in order to extend the implementation period.

The lawmakers relaxed their standing rules to grant accelerated consideration and approval to enable it to read the bill for the first, second and third time before its passage.

Presenting a report on it during plenary, the Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto East), said it was imperative to extend the budget implementation as a result of key projects by the federal government.

According to him, the extension will enable the government to implement key projects in the capital component of the 2022 budget and allow for the completion of ongoing projects which are critical to the current administration.

He said: “Because of some key projects, it is expedient to extend the implementation (of the budget) because of key projects that are not provided for in the 2023 budget.

“You will recall that the National Assembly extended the implementation of the 2022 Appropriation Act from 31st December, 2022 to 31st March, 2023.

“This was to allow full implementation of the budget, especially in the light of the 2022 supplementary budget approved in December 2022. The extension had allowed MDAs to utilize a large proportion of funds released to them.

“However, significant amounts of funds remain with the MDAs and will require a further extension to be fully expended.

“Giving the critical importance of some key projects nearing completion, requesting a further extension of the expiration clause in the Appropriation (Amendment) Act, 2022 and the Long Title and Explanatory Memorandum of the Supplementary Appropriation Act is expedient to avoid compounding the problem of abandoned projects, given that some of the projects were not provided for in the 2023 budget.”

In his contribution, Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP Benue North East), backed the request to extend the budget, but however, added that it should be spelt out that the 2022 budget will run concurrently with the 2023 Appropriation Act

The Senate later dissolved into the Committee of Supply to consider the report before it eventually approved and passed the request to extend the life of the 2022 budget till June 30, 2023.