Despite NASS N765bn addition, Buhari signs N21.83tn appropriation bill into law

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday signed the 2023 Budget of N21.83 trillion along with the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill into law, notwithstanding the increase of N765bn revenues by the National Assembly, among others.

Speaking at the signing of the eighth and final annual budget of his administration, the President said the aggregate expenditures of N21.83 trillion, is an increase of N1.32 trillion over the initial Executive Proposal for a total expenditure of N20.51 trillion.

He directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to engage with the legislature and revisit some of the changes made to the executive budget proposal.

He expressed the hope that the National Assembly will cooperate with the executive arm of government in that regard.

The President explained that the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act would enable the administration to respond to the havoc caused by the recent nationwide floods on infrastructure and agriculture sectors.

He said Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, would subsequently provide more details of the approved budget and the supporting 2022 Finance Act.

He said, ”We have examined the changes made by the National Assembly to the 2023 Executive Budget proposal.

”The amended fiscal framework for 2023 as approved by the National Assembly shows additional revenues of N765.79 billion, and an unfunded deficit of N553.46 billion.

”It is clear that the National Assembly and the executive need to capture some of the proposed additional revenue sources in the fiscal framework. This must be rectified.

”I have also noted that the National Assembly introduced new projects into the 2023 budget proposal for which it has appropriated N770.72 billion.

“The National Assembly also increased the provisions made by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) by N58.55 billion.”

President Buhari said his decision to sign the 2023 Appropriation Bill into law as passed by the National Assembly was to enable its implementation without delay, considering the imminent transition process to another democratically elected government.