The Senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to authorize issuance of N1.1trillon from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT, statutory revenue account.
The passage followed its presentation by Sen.Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti), at plenary on Thursday.
While giving highlights of the FCT Appropriation Bill, Bamidele said N140 billion was earmarked for personnel cost, while N280 billon was for overhead cost.
According to the lawmaker, N726 billon is for capital projects.
He said the thrust of the FCT budget, commencing from Jan 1 to December 31, was provision of services and completion of ongoing projects for residents of the FCT.
Bamidele said emphasis had been placed on completion of ongoing projects for the good of FCT residents.
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) applauded the Minister of FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for presenting the budget on time, saying that the early presentation was a good start for the FCT administration.
He called on the lawmakers to give the bill expeditious passage, given the plan and proposed programmes outlined by the minister during his meeting with the senators.
Sen.Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) said it was good for the senate to give expeditious passage, giving the issues that required attention in the FCT.
Sen. Binos Yaroe (PDP-Adamawa) said the FCT minister was a performing minister, hence the need to give the bill expeditious passage to ensure execution of projects and other services in the FCT.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, after the bill was read for second reading, assured that the bill would be expeditiously considered and passed to encourage the Minister of the FCT to advance reforms in the nation’s capital.
The bill was, thereafter, referred to the Committee on FCT for further legislative action.
N1.1trn FCT 2024 Appropriation Bill passes second reading at Senate