The Nigerian senate on Wednesday frowned at the late submission of the 2022 FCT budget by the Federal Capital Territory Administration in October.
The upper legislative chamber also ordered the authorities of FCT , to ensure the 2023 budget estimate is presented by next week or risk zero allocation for the fiscal year .
The action by the senate , came after the presentation of N607.962billion 2022 budget for FCT, presented by senate leader Senator Ibrahim Gobir.
The lawmakers took turns in condemning the late submission of the budget coming in October , less than two months to the end of the year.
Senator James Manager ( PDP Delta South) in his contribution called for the rejection of the appropriation bill
He added that the leadership of the FCT Administration saddled with drafting the proposals since January have failed in their responsibility
The Senator representing FCT, Philip Aduda in his contribution apologized on behalf of the FCT Minister for the late submission of 2022 budget proposals.
Aduda in his intervention appealed for restraint , as the resultant effect of not passing the budget may affect the ordinary Nigerians.
The President of the Senate Ahmed lawan in his remarks said submitting the 2022 budget proposals in October is not only unfortunate but unacceptable .
He directed the Chairman , Senate Committee on FCT, Smart Adeyemi ( APC Kogi West), to interface with the FCT Minister , Muhammad Bello and ensure submission of 2023 Budget by next week unfailingly.
He added that the Senate will no longer consider late submissions of budget by agencies of Government in the 10th month of the year
The lawmakers thereafter passed for second reading the N607. 962billion 2022 FCT budget , out of which N76.569billion is for personnel cost , N138.199billion for overhead and N393.192billion for capital projects.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
