Senate passes N8.83tn 2019 budget for second reading

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Exactly three months after its presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate yesterday passed for second reading the N8.83 trillion 2019 budget proposals.

The Senate as well urged its committee on appropriations to work on the details of the budget and report back on April 2 for a possible third reading of the bill.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki gave this indication at plenary in his remarks while deliberating on the budget, saying that “we shall be here on April 2 to receive the report of the appropriation committee on this budget, consider and possibly pass it for third reading.

“In keeping to the date, chairmen of the various standing committees should ensure that they tidy up budget defence sessions with heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under their purview within the next two weeks.

“The best way out of the situation at hand as far as the passage of the 2019 budget is concerned, is for the various committees to push to the appropriation committee, budget proposals of any MDAs whose management refuses to appear as originally proposed by the President.”

Debating the bill, senators spoke on the general principles of the budget, calling for caution on the part of the executive as regards the rising debt profile of the country.