The Senate has extended the implementation period of the capital component of the 2022 budget until June 30, 2023, instead of the initial deadline of March 31.
The Punch reported that the extension came after a request for an amendment to the Appropriation Act 2022 by the Senate leader, Senator Gobir.
The lawmakers relaxed their rules to grant accelerated consideration and approval for the amendment. The extension will allow the government to complete ongoing critical projects and implement key projects in the 2022 budget.
According to Senator Gobir, “significant amounts of funds remain with MDAs and will require a further extension to be fully expended.”
Senator Gabriel Suswam supported the request to extend the budget but suggested that it should run concurrently with the 2023 Appropriation Act.
He said, “You will recall that the National Assembly extended the implementation of the 2022 Appropriation Act from 31st December 2022 to 31st March 2023.
“This was to allow full implementation of the budget, especially in the light of the 2022 supplementary budget approved in December 2022, the extension had allowed MDAs to utilise a large proportion of funds released to them. However, significant amounts of funds remain with MDAs and will require a further extension to be fully expended.”
The Senate resolved that the Committee of Supply should consider the report before approving and passing the request to extend the life of the 2022 budget.
“Giving the critical importance of some key projects nearing completion, requesting a further extension of the expiration clause in the Appropriation (Amendment) Act, 2022 and the Long Title and Explanatory Memorandum of the Supplementary Appropriation Act is expedient to avoid compounding the problem of abandoned projects, given that some of the projects were not provided for in the 2023 budget,” he added.
