By peterside Rejoice Eneky
In a fast-paced legislative session, the Senate on Tuesday resumed plenary and swiftly passed two executive bills one extending the capital implementation period of the 2024 budget and the other amending the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act.
The bills, which scaled first, second, and third readings within hours, drew mixed reactions from lawmakers over issues of delayed procurement and pending payments by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Leading the debate on the extension of the 2024 Appropriation Act, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Solomon Adeola, said the proposal seeks to extend the capital implementation timeline from June 30 to December 31, 2025. He argued that the extension would give MDAs the needed window to complete ongoing procurement processes and disburse funds for capital projects.
However, the motion sparked varying opinions on the floor. Senators Yahaya Abdullahi, Abdul Ningi, Seriake Dickson, and Abba Moro raised concerns about the recurring delays in budget implementation, urging for systemic reforms to prevent future rollovers.
Senate Deputy President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, explained that the extension was necessary for government to meet its fiscal and developmental obligations.
Following the debate, the Senate suspended its standing Rule 78(1) twice to fast-track the bill’s passage through second and third readings. The bill was then adopted after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
In a related development, the Senate also passed the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to extend the lifespan of the fund from six to twelve years. The amendment aims to bolster funding for police training, equipment, and operational capacity.
Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the extension would help consolidate ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen the Nigeria Police Force. The bill scaled all legislative stages without objection.
Both bills now await concurrence by the House of Representatives before transmission to the President for assent
About Author
