Rita Odafe
The Nigerian Senate has extended the implementation timeline of the 2023 supplementary budget to December 31, 2024, moving it from the initial deadline of June 30.
In a rapid decision, the Red Chamber swiftly passed a bill for this extension in under 20 minutes by suspending its usual rules. Before passing the bill, a two-hour closed-door session was held by the lawmakers.
In December 2023, both Chambers of the National Assembly had already extended the timeline for capital components of the budget to March 31, 2024. This extension also included the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget passed in November 2023.
Earlier in March, at the request of President Bola Tinubu, the Senate and the House of Representatives had extended the budgetary appropriations timeline from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024.
With just four days left until the original deadline of June 30, 2024, the two chambers interrupted their recess to convene separate sessions on Thursday to discuss additional extensions before their planned resumption on July 2, 2024.
