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The Senate has approved a budget N45.8 billion more that what President Muhammadu Buhari proposed for the Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the year 2020.
The senate on Thursday approved N278.4 billion as against N232.8 billion proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
The approval is coming following the consideration of reports of the senate committee on FCT.
Of the total budget, N55.8 billion (55,878,241,095) is for personnel cost, N62.3 billion (62,343,723,435) for overhead cost and N160.1 billion (160,133,401,417) for capital projects.
Mr Buhari had proposed N53.9 billion for personnel cost and N57.1 billion for overhead cost.
The FCT had an appropriation of N243.3 in the 2019 fiscal year.
Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Abubakar Kyari explained that new and ongoing projects were not sufficiently funded due to delay in the release of funds, occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
A few lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported the report of the committee.
Urging that the provision of the budget is fully implemented, Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue) also called for improved security in the nation’s capital.
The lawmakers thereafter considered the budget clause-by-clause – after which it was passed.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the speedy passage of the budget shows commitment, dedication and the capacity of the Senate to deal with matters of national interest.
Lawan further said that the Senate and the ninth assembly is interested in any issue that will make life better for Nigerians.
He urged the FCTA and the Senate Committee on FCT to ensure that the budget is implemented. This is even as he also called for improved security in the FCT.
“The FCT is supposed to be the most secure city because it is the seat of government.”
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