*Gambari receives document Dec 25
The National Assembly has transmitted the N17.126trn 2022 Appropriation Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.
The transmission of the 2022 Budget to Buhari by the National Assembly was contained in a letter by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Amos.
The letter further showed that the document was transmitted on Friday, December 24 and received by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari on Saturday, December 25.
The letter of transmission, with Ref No NASS/CNA/37/Vol.1/35, was addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and titled ‘APPROPRIATION BILL, 2022.
The letter reads in part, “In consonance with the Provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, I wish, with due respect, to forward to Your Excellency, the authenticated copies of Appropriation Bill, 2022, for your consideration and assent.
“After Your Excellency’s assent, one copy of the signed bill should be retained in your office while the other two are to be returned for our further action, please”.
Theideal recalls that sequel to the passage of an aggregate expenditure of N17,126,873,917,692trillion as budget for the 2022 fiscal year by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, transmitted the document to President Buhari for assent.
The Senate and Reps had raised the total estimates from the proposed N16.391tn to N17.126tn, just as the oil benchmark was raised from the proposed $57 per barrel to $62.
Lawan had also on Wednesday, stated last week moments before the Senate proceeded on recess, that the National Assembly would last week Thursday transmit the 2022 budget to President Buhari for assent into law.
Lawan, who noted that the timely assent of the 2022 Appropriations bill into law would ensure the commencement of its implementation by January next year, added that businesses operating in the country as well as the economy stand to be impacted positively by the timely passage of the nation’s budget by the National Assembly.
