The Presidency has clarified that the 2023 budget extension is to ensure full project execution.
The clarification was made yesterday following criticism by BudgIT, a civic-tech organization that the extension was an anomaly.
The National Assembly on Thursday approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to extend implementation of the capital component of the N21.83 trillion 2023 Appropriation Act, and the N2.1 trillion 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act, till December 31, 2024.
The approval meant that capital allocations of the 2023 Appropriation Act, 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act, and 2024 Appropriation Act will run concurrently till December 31.
Speaking on the development in a chat with The Nation, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the National Assembly had not erred in its action, pointing out that its decision was in a bid to ensure the implementation of projects in the budget.
Onanuga, who noted that the Senate had already explained its reason for its intervention, said there are projects in the old budgets that have not been implemented because of funding issues.
