After over 180 days of the formal laying of the 2018 Appropriation Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari before the joint session of the National Assembly, the Senate today passed the Bill following the consideration and adoption of the report by the joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriation.
The report was laid before the Senate yesterday but the Senators considered and adopted it today at an extended plenary. The House of Representatives had disclosed yesterday that the Bill would be passed by it today.
Over the months, the National Assembly had been criticized variously by a broad section of the public for the delayed passage of the bill, particularly the civil society organizations.
The President had on November 7, 2017 while laying the bill before a joint session of the National Assembly, urged the lawmakers to deliberate and pass the bill early to ensure the realization of its key objectives, particularly economic growth projections.
President Buhari said “Nigeria is currently emerging from a very difficult economic period. If we all cooperate, and support one another, we can consolidate on our exit from the recession and firmly position Nigeria for economic prosperity. All the projects presented within this Budget have been carefully selected and subjected to extensive consultations and stakeholder engagements.
“As a Government, we are determined to bring succour to our people, improve their lives, and deliver on our promises to them. 2018 is a crucial year as we strive to ensure that we consolidate our successes and institutionalize the policies and practices that drove this turnaround. I appeal to you to swiftly consider and pass the 2018 Appropriation Bill”, he added.
