The Federal Government of Nigeria plans to spend N2.55 trillion on petrol subsidies this year.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the National Assembly requested approval in the revised budget 2022.
He faulted senators and House of Representatives members for inserting N887.99 billion projects in the Appropriation Act.
Buhari directed that 139 of such projects be cleared from the budget.
He reiterated that the inclusion of National Assembly expenditures in the Executive budget proposal is against the principles of separation of powers and financial autonomy of the legislature.
The President asked the lawmakers to expedite action on his request to sustain the gains of an early passage of the budget.
“Given the urgency of the request for amendments, I seek the cooperation of the National Assembly for expeditious legislative action on the 2022 Appropriation Amendment Proposal to sustain the gains of an early passage of the budget,” the President wrote in his memo.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan read Buhari’s letter on the floor. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, acknowledged receipt of the memo but did not read the content.
The speaker referred it to the relevant committees of the House for further legislative action.
