Buhari Accuses Lawmakers of Inflating 2023 Budget by About N1 trn

Paschal Emeka, Abuja

President Buhari has observed additions to the 2023 budget by the National Assembly. Speaking on Tuesday while signing the 2023 budget into law in Abuja, President Buhari revealed that the National Assembly included N770 billion in new projects in the 2023 budget proposal and raised the provisions made by ministries, departments, and agencies by N58.55 billion as he signed the budget into law.

While signing the bill into law on Tuesday morning at the State House in Abuja, Buhari noted that he needed to sign the budget to allow for quick implementation as his regime’s tenure gradually draws to an end.

He, however, revealed that he had directed Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, to engage “with the legislature to revisit some of the changes made to the executive budget proposal.”

“I have also noted that the National Assembly introduced new projects into the 2023 budget proposal for which it has appropriated N770.72 billion, the National Assembly also increased the provisions made by ministries, departments, and agencies by N58.55 billion,” Mr. Buhari said.

The president added, “Nonetheless, considering the imminent transition process to another democratically elected government, I decided to sign the 2023 appropriation bill into law as passed by the National Assembly to enable its implementation to commence without delay.”