The Senate on Tuesday, November 29, endorsed virement of about N213billion requested by President Muhammadu Buhari in respect of the special intervention for funding of critical recurrent and capital items inadequately captured in the 2016 budget.
The approval followed the report of the Senate Committee on Appropriation on the virement request presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President had on Wednesday 16th November, 2016 asked the Senate to approve the release of N180 billion from the N500 billion Social Intervention Funds contained in the 2016 budget.
Leading the debate, Senator Danjuma Goje who chairs the Appropriations committee spoke on the Committee’s recommendations regarding the virement of funds, insisting that a better job was done on the requests having involved other committees.
The Senate however added N33 billion to what the President’s requested to arrive at a grand total of N213 billion after a public hearing to cover shortfalls in affected Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
The Senate also approved an additional N300 million for the construction of 132 KVA Substation at Gwaram in Jigawa State.
Despite supporting the approval, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu raised what he called a constitutional matter, pointing out that Virement was not known to the constitution.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, while commending members of the Appropriations Committee for a job well done, added that the approval will ensure capital project funding, especially of local contractors as well as efficient and appropriate implementation of the 2016 Budget.
He expressed happiness that the work of the Appropriation Committee showed the smooth relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, Worldstage reports.
