• Adjourns plenary to December 12
The House of Representatives has passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill, presented to the National Assembly, by President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, for second reading.
The House approved the Appropriation Bill for second reading, yesterday, after a two-day debate. Thereafter, it adjourned plenary to December 12 to enable Ministries, Department and Agencies ( MDAs) appear before House Committee to defend their 2024 budget estimates.
Some of the lawmakers, while contributing to the debate, lauded President Tinubu for the budget, with members from the South East calling on the government to prioritize the provision of infrastructure for the zone.
Paul Nnamchi, in his contribution, urged the Federal Government to use the 2024 budget to extend rail lines to the South East. Nnamchi explained that extending rail lines to the South East, apart from easing the transportation burden on the people, will also boost the economy of the country.
Nevertheless, the lawmaker commended President Tinubu for the allocation to the education sector, noting that there is need to increase the budget for the sector.
Similarly, Ginger Onwusibe stressed the need for more allocation to infrastructural development in the South East, so as to address the plight of the people of the zone.
Onwusibe said: “We from the South East cannot continue to cry marginalization.
There is no motorable federal road in the South East. We should consider the South East and allocate more resources to its infrastructure development.”
The House deputy minority leader, Aliyu Madaki expressed optimism that the budget would be impactful.
Kafilat Ogara, in her contribution, hailed the budget as a “people-centric budget”, stating that it laid emphasis on security, education, human capital development amongst others.
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