President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sought
approval from the National Assembly for a supplementary budget of
N161.6bn in the 2012 fiscal period, an amount meant to avert fuel
scarcity during the festive yuletide.
Jonathan's request, coming barely two weeks to the end of 2012 fiscal year, was conveyed in a letter read on both floors of the Senate and House of Representatives by Senate President David Mark, and Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal respectively.
The president explained that the additional request emanated from a forensic audit which revealed that the N888.1billion provided for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was not enough.
He added that while the sum of N880.1billion had been paid out for subsidy, leaving a balance of N7.7billion.
The letter reads in part: "You will recall that, as part of the 2012 budget framework, a provision of N888.1 billion was made for payment of fuel subsidy for the nation. I wish to intimate the distinguished Senate of the fact that, following the forensic audit carried out, the provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was underestimated. "As at now, the sum of N880,264,243,683:61 billion has been paid out, leaving a balance of N7, 735, 756, 316: 39 billion.
"In order to accommodate the outstanding arrears resulting from the forensic audit exercise and the remaining period of the 2012, an additional sum of N161, 617, 364, 911billion over and above what was programmed in the 2012 framework is required.
"Given the need to maintain a steady flow of petroleum products, especially in the run-up to the festive season, it is my hope that the distinguished senators will kindly accord this request their traditional expeditious consideration and approval," he said.
We've Not Abandoned Subsidy Report - Tambuwal
Meanwhile, Tambuwal said yesterday that the House had not abandoned the fuel subsidy report.
Tambuwal gave this assurance during a courtesy visit on him by officials of the Anti-Corruption Network, an NGO led by former lawmaker, Dino Melaye.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the House had, after an emergency session on January 8, conducted a probe of the fuel subsidy regime in the country following which some oil companies were indicted. But little is heard of the matter these days after the lawmaker heading the probe committee, Farouk Lawan, was accused of receiving bribes, prompting fears that the House were cooling off the issue.
Jonathan's request, coming barely two weeks to the end of 2012 fiscal year, was conveyed in a letter read on both floors of the Senate and House of Representatives by Senate President David Mark, and Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal respectively.
The president explained that the additional request emanated from a forensic audit which revealed that the N888.1billion provided for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was not enough.
He added that while the sum of N880.1billion had been paid out for subsidy, leaving a balance of N7.7billion.
The letter reads in part: "You will recall that, as part of the 2012 budget framework, a provision of N888.1 billion was made for payment of fuel subsidy for the nation. I wish to intimate the distinguished Senate of the fact that, following the forensic audit carried out, the provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was underestimated. "As at now, the sum of N880,264,243,683:61 billion has been paid out, leaving a balance of N7, 735, 756, 316: 39 billion.
"In order to accommodate the outstanding arrears resulting from the forensic audit exercise and the remaining period of the 2012, an additional sum of N161, 617, 364, 911billion over and above what was programmed in the 2012 framework is required.
"Given the need to maintain a steady flow of petroleum products, especially in the run-up to the festive season, it is my hope that the distinguished senators will kindly accord this request their traditional expeditious consideration and approval," he said.
We've Not Abandoned Subsidy Report - Tambuwal
Meanwhile, Tambuwal said yesterday that the House had not abandoned the fuel subsidy report.
Tambuwal gave this assurance during a courtesy visit on him by officials of the Anti-Corruption Network, an NGO led by former lawmaker, Dino Melaye.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the House had, after an emergency session on January 8, conducted a probe of the fuel subsidy regime in the country following which some oil companies were indicted. But little is heard of the matter these days after the lawmaker heading the probe committee, Farouk Lawan, was accused of receiving bribes, prompting fears that the House were cooling off the issue.
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