By Bukola Olasanmi
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday failed to pass the 2023 Appropriation bill as earlier promised by the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, saying the budget proposal was submitted late with errors.
Indications emerged when the budget report was not listed on the Order Paper for Thursday’s legislative activities.
Lawmakers went on a closed-door session shortly after the plenary resumed for the day and the closed session lasted for 15 minutes.
The Senate President, in his address after the closed session, said the 2023 Appropriations bill cannot be passed today as scheduled because the Appropriations Committee could not complete work on the budget report.
He, however, blamed the executive arm of government for submitting the budget proposal very late and when it was laid, it came with errors.
He also said that the process of cleaning the errors contained in the Appropriations bill was concluded on Wednesday, adding that the two chambers have to harmonize the copy to be able to present the report for passage by both chambers on Wednesday 28, 2022.
Lawan also assured that the implementation of the proposed budget will still commence on January 1, 2023.