N23.7 TRILLION ‘WAYS AND MEANS” EXPENDITURE REQUEST SPARKS UPROAR IN SENATE

President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for N23.7 trillion ‘Ways and Means’ request for approval has sparked an uproar in the Senate today.

The uproar started when Senator Solomon Olamilekan who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance presented the report before the Chambers and explained that the amount has been spent by

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on behalf of Nigerians, hence, approval should be given by the Senate in line with statutory provisions.

Senator Betty Apiafi representing Rivers West Senatorial district raised alarm, saying that and the Senate must not go ahead to approve the fund, noting that the expenditure was not in line with certain provisions of the constitution.

Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West Senatorial district, citing various sections of the Senate rules supported the position of the Committee Chairman and asked that the debate should continue.

Senator George Thompson Sekibo through a point of Order referred to Sections, 80, 83, and 84 of Senate rules and Sections 1(1), 13(1) of the Constitution and Central Bank of Nigeria Act, Section 38 maintained that, “no money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue fund, except in the manner approved by the National Assembly”, insisting that it would amount to an abuse of privileges for lawmakers to approve the sum of N23.7 trillion without knowing the details.

Following the pandemonium that ensued, the Senate President directed that the chamber should go into a closed-door session.