Nigeria House of Representatives has passed the 2023 appropriation bill of Twenty One Trillion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Seven Billion, One Hundred and Eighty Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety One Naira.
This figure represents a one trillion, three hundred million increase in the Appropriation presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 7th, 2022.
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Presenting the report of the committee on Appropriations at plenary, Chairman of the Committee, Muktar Betara appreciated chairmen and members of various committees for their efforts at keeping to the January to December budget calendar initiated by the 9th National Assembly.
The House similarly approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request of 819.5 billion naira supplementary budget and the extension of the Capital aspect of the 2022 Appropriation Act to allow the federal government complete ongoing critical projects across the country.
But the passage of the 2022 Finance Bill drew attention of the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Judiciary, Onofiok Luke.
The lawmaker faulted some provisions in the bill which will subject Nigerians to higher tax in the face of rising cost of living.
Luke who wondered why lawmakers are not given time to study such fundamental amendments for comprehensive consideration by the Parliament also faulted amendment of the Petroleum Profit Tax which has already been overtaken by the Petroleum Industry Act.
(Editor: Ena Agbanoma)
