National Assembly has jerked up 2017 budget by N143 billion, from N7.298 trillion to N7.441trillion proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reports of the Appropriation committees of Senate and the House of Representatives were presented and laid yesterday. The presentation of the budget reports were postponed trice. 

At the Senate, Chairman of the Appropriation committee, Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe) laid the report and it was seconded by the Vice Chairman, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP, Ebonyi). 

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the budget would be passed tomorrow. 

At the House, the report was presented and laid by chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Mustapha Bala Dawaki (APC, Kano).

The sum of N2.174 trillion is for contribution to the Development Fund for capital expenditure; N434.412bn for Statutory Transfers; N1.841 trillion for debt service; N177.460bn for Sinking Fund for maturing bonds, while the sum of N2.990 trillion is for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure.

With the presentation, the lawmakers are expected to begin clause-by-clause consideration of the budget.

Our correspondents gathered N20bn was added to the budget by the lawmakers for the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Daily Trust