- Dickson Warns Legislators To Avoid Public Ridicule In Handling Of Legislative Activities
A bill seeking to increase the 2024 Budget by N6.2tr has been passed for second reading by the National Assembly on the day it was submitted to the National Assembly.
The Matrix reports that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, wrote to the National Assembly seeking the permission to increase the 2024 appropriation act by N6.2 trillion.
Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas during plenary on Wednesday.
In the letter, Tinubu proposes allocating N3.2 trillion for infrastructure projects and N3 trillion for recurrent expenditure.
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If approved, this will increase the budget from the current N28.7 trillion to N34.9 trillion.
The bill was introduced for first reading after Akpabio and Abbas read the request by President Tinubu.
In his contribution, Senator Adamu Aliero representing Kebbi South, said the amendment, which would create opportunity for funding of critical projects that were not captured in the principal Act, was in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He reminded the Senate that the amendment will take care of the minimum wage that is being discussed with labour, adding that it was important that senators expeditiously pass it into law to avoid strike.
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Speaking on the bill, Senator Seriake Dickson differed, saying that the Senate should not pass the bill in a hurry to avoid pitfalls.
He recalled the backlash from the public over a bill he said was previously passed in a hurry, noting that legislators should avoid public ridicule in the handling of legislative activities.
After contribution by other senators in favour of amendment to the Act, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary called for voice votes and it was passed for second reading.
