The House of Representatives has vowed that it would ensure the request by President Bola Tinubu to add ₦6.2tr to the 2024 budget is in the best interest of Nigerians before granting legislative approval.
The Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, made this known in a chat with newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
Naturenex recalls President Tinubu forwarded letters to the two chambers of the National Assembly, seeking their approval to add ₦6.2trillion to the ₦27.5trillion 2024 budget.
Details of the letter show President Tinubu asked the lawmakers to grant approval for the withdrawal of ₦3.2 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, for capital expenditure.
The President, in the second leg of the request as contained in the letter, seeks approval for the withdrawal of another ₦3 trillion from the consolidated revenue fund for additional recurrent expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December 2024.
He also requested in the letter, an Act to amend the Finance Act, 2023, to impose and charge windfall tax on banks and to provide for the administration of the tax and matters related thereto.
Speaking with journalists on Friday in Abuja, Agbese said lawmakers will thoroughly scrutinize the request before granting approval.
He said the House would work with the Senate to ensure the supplementary budget is passed in a timely manner but would ensure the process is transparent and thorough for the benefit of Nigerians.
“We will scrutinise every bit of the budget proposal to ensure that ultimately each kobo is well utilised and that the budget is in the best interest of our constituents. We owe it to them to ensure that their resources are utilised efficiently,” Agbese said.
“We will not compromise on our commitment to transparency and accountability. We will take the time to get it right and we are confident that the end result will be a budget that benefits all Nigerians.
“We have a good working relationship with the Senate, and we are confident that we can work together to pass the supplementary budget in a timely manner.
“We will work together to ensure that the budget is passed with the necessary scrutiny and oversight.
“We are looking at critical infrastructure projects that will impact the lives of Nigerians, such as roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities. We are also looking at education and public welfare initiatives that will benefit our constituents.
“We want to ensure that the budget is inclusive and benefits all Nigerians, regardless of their location or socio-economic status.
“We will not compromise on our commitment to transparency and accountability. We will take the time to get it right, and we are confident that the end result will be a budget that benefits all Nigerians.”
