UPDATED: Fuel Subsidy: Reps approve Tinubu’s N500 billion request

BY Ogechi Chukwu
a year ago

The House of Representatives amended the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act to accommodate the president’s request

The N500 billion sought by President Bola Tinubu for the provision of palliatives to lessen the effects of the removal of petroleum subsidies on Nigerians has been approved by the House of Representatives.

The 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act was modified by the House on Thursday to comply with the president’s request.

In a letter on Wednesday, Mr. Tinubu requested that the National Assembly change the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act to remove N500 billion for palliative care.

The amended measure was discussed in the lower chamber and was approved on Thursday.

The specifics of the palliatives that were to be administered were not included in the letter.

Senate receives request

Also on Thursday, Mr. Tinubu sent a letter to the Senate requesting authority to withdraw N500 billion from the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Law in order to pay for the provision of palliative care to Nigerians.

During the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter.

The impact of the floods on farmlands and road infrastructure led the previous president Muhammadu Buhari to propose a supplementary budget of N819, 536, 927, 815 in 2022 for capital projects.

Since then, the budget’s life has been extended till December 31.

In his letter to the Senate, Mr. Tinubu stated that the removal of the N500 billion set aside to pay for the provision of palliative care is “necessary.”

The letter reads “I write to request the approval of the Senate for the amendment of the 2022 supplementary appropriation act in accordance with the attached.

“The request has become necessary in order to among other things source the funds necessary to provide palliatives to mitigate the effects of the recent removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians .

“The sum of 500 billion naira has been extracted from the 2022 supplementary appropriation act of 819, 536, 927,815 for the provision of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

“While I hope that the Senate will consider this request expeditiously, please, accept Distinguish Senate President and members, the assurance of my highest considerations.”