By Raphael Ekpang
The Senate Committee chairman on appropriation, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC) Kano North Senatorial District, has said that the increase of N20.52 trn to N21.83 by the national assembly was in order and due to increase in revenue
In an interview with journalists, Barau said the decision of the two chambers of the National Assembly to increase the 2023 budget from N20.51 trillion to N21.83 trillion was done in collaboration with the executive arm of government.
“The increase was due to the increase in revenue. We did it in collaboration with the Executive Arm.”
Barau who led the appropriation committee of the 9th Senate to passed the budget in December in record four times in accordance with January to December budget circle noted that part of the 2023 budget will be funded through borrowing said, he has no doubt that President Buhari will sign the 2023 Appropriation Bill into law at the right time.
However, the Senate and the House of Representatives last Wednesday passed the 2023 Appropriation Bill of N21.83 trillion respectively indicating an increase of N1.32 trillion from the N20.51 trillion budget proposal of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the bill, N967.5 billion is for statutory transfers, N6.6 trillion for debt servicing, N8.3 trillion for recurrent expenditure, and N5.9 trillion for capital expenditure.
Meanwhile, the elated lawmaker was happy the national assembly and the Senate in particular was able to keep to their promise of returning the budget to January-December circle on like the previous assemblies