Senate Calls Urgent Session to Review President Tinubu’s Supplementary Budget Proposal
The Nigerian Senate has announced an urgent session scheduled for tomorrow to review President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s supplementary budget proposal for the 2024 fiscal year. This special session will address critical budgetary matters, including a formal proposal for acquiring a new presidential aircraft, anticipated to be presented within a Supplementary Appropriation Bill.
Members of Congress, including those from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, had commenced their break last week but are expected to reconvene on July 2, 2024. The Senate will convene for a plenary session on Thursday, addressing various pressing issues, as confirmed by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs and representative of Ekiti South for the APC.
Adaramodu made this announcement on Wednesday, stating, “It’s our statutory resumption from the Sallah break. Senate has the constitutional power to regulate its sessions and we believe that we could gain one more legislative day to deal with national and constitutional issues, hence the bringing forward from the initial July 2.”
The session is expected to focus on several key matters, including further oversight on appropriations, addressing hanging issues related to constitutional and electoral concerns, and clearing outstanding bills and motions before the Senate’s annual recess later this year.
The review of President Tinubu’s supplementary budget proposal is a crucial step in ensuring that the 2024 fiscal year is adequately funded and that all necessary expenditures are accounted for. The inclusion of a proposal for a new presidential aircraft has drawn particular attention, highlighting the administration’s priorities and the need for careful scrutiny by the legislative body.
Senator Adaramodu emphasized the importance of this session, noting that it will allow the Senate to address essential national and constitutional issues promptly. “We hope to deal with issues concerning our further oversight on the appropriations and clear further the hanging issues of constitutional and electoral concerns. And clear outstanding bills and motions, expectedly before our annual recess, later in the year,” he stated.
The upcoming session underscores the Senate’s commitment to maintaining diligent oversight over the national budget and ensuring that all legislative responsibilities are met in a timely manner. As the Senate prepares to reconvene, the nation watches closely to see how these important budgetary decisions will unfold.
