The House of Representatives passed a supplementary budget (Appropriation Bill) 2024 of N98.50bn for the Federal Capital Territory Administration during its second reading on Wednesday.
The bill, presented by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, aims to authorize the allocation of N98.5 billion from the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Statutory Revenue Fund for capital projects in Abuja for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
It could be recalled that, President Bola Tinubu recently addressed the parliament, requesting approval for the FCTA Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024.
In his letter, read on the House floor, he highlighted the need to review the 2024 Statutory Appropriation Act for the Federal Capital Territory Administration. The letter emphasized that the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration identified critical projects omitted from the 2024 Appropriation and urged their inclusion.
“The capital projects are integral to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), playing a crucial role in manpower and infrastructure development. Therefore, the proposed 2024 Supplementary Appropriation to the 2024 Statutory Appropriation Act for the Federal Capital Territory Administration, passed in March 2024, is imperative.”
When Professor Ihonvbere read the bill, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, presiding over the plenary in Speaker Abbas Tajudeen’s absence, conducted a voice vote, with members unanimously supporting its passage.
