The National Assembly, yesterday, amended the N819.5 billion 2022 supplementary budget and approved N70 billion to support the “working conditions” of new lawmakers.
The amendment also made provision for N500 billion in palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The amendment was passed in both the Senate and House of Representatives 24 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent the request to the parliament.
The breakdown of the amended N819.5 billion supplementary budget showed that N500 billion goes for palliatives to cushion the effect of recent fuel subsidy removal. It will be domiciled in the finance ministry.
The details also showed that N185 billion was for the Ministry of Works and Housing to alleviate the impact of the flooding disaster suffered in the country in 2022 on road infrastructure across the six geopolitical zones.
The sum of N19.2 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture to ameliorate the massive destruction to farmlands across the country during the flooding experienced last year; N35 billion to National Judicial Council; N10 billion to Federal Capital Territory Administration for critical projects; and N70 billion for the National Assembly to support the working conditions of new members.
The allocation of N70bn for lawmakers has, however, attracted criticisms from civil society organisations who consider it as outrageous.
(DAILY TRUST)
