President Tinubu has requested the Senate to amend the 2024 Appropriation Act and the 2023 Finance Act by increasing the budget with N6.2tn.
President Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Wednesday.
“I forward herewith the above bills for consideration and passage by the Senate.
“The Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to amend the principal Act to provide the sum of N3.2 trillion for Renewed Hope infrastructure projects and other critical infrastructure projects to be undertaken across the country.
“And the sum of N3 trillion to meet further recurrent expenditure requirements, necessary for the proper operation by the Federal Government expenditure, which is to be funded by expected revenue accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
According to the President, the proposed amendments to the Finance Act 2023 were required to impose a one-time windfall tax on the foreign exchange gains realised by banks in their 2023 financial statements.
He explained that this was to fund capital infrastructure development, education, healthcare access, and public welfare initiatives. All of the projects are essential components of the renewed hope agenda of the administration.