How Tinubu provides N300bn intervention to absorb Trump’s policy – Senator Adeola
By Tunde Opalana
Facts have emerged on why President Bola Tinubu took N300 billion equivalent of $200 million on from the Service Wide Votes which was injected into the health sector.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the report of his committee on the 2025 budget for deliberation on the floor of the Senate.
He said the President acted proactively to cushion the effect of the recent pronouncement of the United States president, Donald Trump.
Adeola justified the additional N700 billion request by the President which was approved by the National Assembly to raise the 2025 budget from N49,740,165,355,396 to N54,990,165,355,396.
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He said “it is to be noted that the recent action by the United States Government to suspend further intervention in the Nigerian Health sector through provision of vaccines and drugs for mataria, Polio, HIV and Tuberculosis using its agency USAID will have adverse effects on Nigerians affected by such diseases.
“On this note, the President proactively made a new provision of $200m which is equivalent to N300bn, in the Service Wide Votes to fill the gap created by the United States (US} Government’s suspension of intervention to Nigerian Health sector, to proactively address the abovementioned health challenges which are currently being suffered by Countries like Uganda and others.
“Similarly, some critical agencies of government forwarded genuine requests to Mr. President for additional funding. After thorough examination by the Joint Appropriations Committee, additional funds were provided to the agencies which include: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC}, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), National Judicial Council (NJC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Department of State Service (DSS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Armed Forces among others.
“The Budget size was increased by N700 Billion to cater for the following: N8270 billion differential between the details of the budget and the bill; The provision of $200m which is equivalent to N300bn
for procurement of vaccines and drugs: and Some agencies of government were provided funds to take care of critical needs.”
According to him, the Joint Committee worked harmoniously with the Leadership of the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government in the processing of the Bill. This ensured maximum collaboration of the two arms in the utilization of additional revenue projection, to improve the funding of some critical projects, which could not be adequately funded in the budget proposal earlier submitted by Mr. President, due to funding constraints.
