After Signing, Buhari Accuses National Assembly Of Padding 2022 Budget

After signing the 2022 budget on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his displeasure with the National Assembly’s amendments, stating that they could hinder the federal government’s goal.

Mr Buhari voiced reservations over the National Assembly’s decision in the Service Wide Vote to designate new provisions worth N36.59 billion for National Assembly projects, arguing that it breached the separation of powers and financial autonomy of both arms of government.

The president is also concerned about an increase in projected independent revenue for the federal government of $400 billion, a reduction in the provision for Sinking Fund to Retire Maturing Bonds of N22 billion, and a reduction in the provision for Non-Regular Allowances of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Navy of N15 billion and N5 billion, respectively, all without explanation.

Mr Buhari was also worried about the changes made to the initial executive plan, which included new entries, outright exclusions, reductions and/or increases in project funding, as well as the loss of provisions for 10,733 projects and the addition of 6,576 new projects to the budget.

He believes that the majority of the projects proposed are in areas that are primarily the responsibility of state and municipal governments, and that they have not been effectively conceptualized, developed, or costed.

President Buhari said he will approach the National Assembly with a request for an amendment as soon as lawmakers return from recess to guarantee that critical current projects essential to his administration do not suffer delays due to reduced funding.

He noted at the presentation of the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriation Bill that the fiscal year 2022 will be essential in his administration’s efforts to complete and implement critical agenda projects, as well as improve Nigerians’ overall living standards.