The House of Representatives has removed the controversial presidential yacht item in the 2023 supplementary budget and transferred the N5 billion allocated for it to student loan.
This was made known by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi (APC, Kano), on Thursday, November 2, while addressing journalists after the passage of the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget by the House.
Bichi said that the committee had eliminated the item and transferred the funds to the student loan division, totalling N10 billion.
No more presidential yacht
- He said, ‘’As far as we are concerned, we don’t have the presidential yacht anymore. We have increased the student loan. If you recall, the student loan was N5 billion in the budget. But we have increased it to N10 billion so that our students will be able to access that facility for them to be able to go to school and to be able to afford them.”
Bichi added that the committee increased the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Defence from the initial allocation of N476 billion to N546 billion.
He noted that the 4-month wage award of N210 billion for workers was considered and approved for onward transmission to the President for implementation.
He pledged adequate legislative oversight to ensure 100% implementation.
The sum of N100 billion was retained for the Federal Capital Territory as requested.
What the Federal Lawmaker is saying
- Bichi said, “Today, our committee has submitted our report, and the House after careful consideration, approved our submission and the breakdown is as follows:
- “As you know, the budget is about N2.177 trillion and the Ministry of Defence has N456 billion but currently, they have the largest share because we know how important our security is. As you are aware, we interacted with them yesterday and they requested additional funding so that they can continue their work.
- “So, we have increased their budget from N476 to N546 billion
- “Then Police Formation and Command, we gave them N50 billion while the FCT has about N100 billion. You know FCT is very important to us because we want to make sure FCT can compete with any city in the world.
- “Office of the National Security Adviser, we know how important that office is. Initially, the allocation was N27 billion but currently, we have increased their budget to N50 billion.
- “The initial budget for the State House was N28 billion and we still maintain their figure at N28 billion as well.
- “Ministry of Agriculture, you know how important that ministry is, you are talking about food security, and of course, it’s critical to our people across the nation.
- “So, we have maintained their initial figure of N200 billion as well.
- “You know how serious the housing deficit in this country is and in Mr President’s agenda, he wants to build as many houses as he can. So, we have approved N100 bn for the Ministry of Housing.”
Well done Reps.
That is what is expected of you to checkmate excesses of the Executives
Mischief, all round. Who put it there in the first place? Some pathetic civil servants wanting to ingratiate themselves to the new regime? Or embarrass the Govt? Bad, on any account. The law makers should be annoyed they had to spend precious time, even considering such in the budget. Someone should be made a severe example! But what do I know? Just when you think you’ve seen the lowest of the lows, some politician/public servant takes you even lower!