Nigerian lawmakers - The African Mirror

Jan

2024

Nigerian lawmakers pass 2024 budget after Tinubu seeks extra funds

NIGERIAN lawmakers approved a 28.77 trillion naira ($34 billion) budget for 2024, accepting a funding increase that the government had sought due to higher revenue forecasts and a weaker currency. President Bola Tinubu had initially presented a 27.5 trillion naira budget to lawmakers, projecting a deficit of 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) and assuming an average exchange rate of 750 naira per dollar. But at a special sitting on Saturday, the Senate and House of Representatives separately debated the budget and resolved to adopt it with the changes sought by the government. The government said it expected more revenue from government-owned…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigerian lawmakers OK president’s extra spending request amid criticism

NEWS

NIGERIAN lawmakers approved President Bola Tinubu's $2.8 billion supplementary budget that includes new bulletproof cars for himself and his wife, drawing outrage from citizens grappling with a cost of living crisis. Tinubu sent the budget to the Senate and House of Representatives this week saying the extra funding was needed for "urgent issues" including defence and security and would form part of the 2023 spending plan. But his government's plans to also spend 5.095 billion naira ($6.47 million) on a presidential yacht, 1.5 billion naira ($1.91 million) on official vehicles for the office of the first lady and 12.7 billion naira on…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria approves $2.4 billion to fight violence, fund vaccines

NEWS

CAMILLUS EBOH NIGERIA’S parliament has passed a 983 billion naira ($2.4 billion) supplementary budget to address rising insecurity in the country and fund COVID-19 vaccines. Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer, is grappling with mass abductions at schools, kidnappings for ransom, conflict between herdsmen and farmers, armed robberies and various insurgencies in the north of the country. Senate leader Ahmad Lawan said parliament should be vigilant in monitoring how the extra funds will be used, in a country that has struggled for decades with corruption. "It is very important that we have a review of the application of these funds before…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

“Nation is on fire”: Nigerian lawmakers demand action on security crisis

NEWS

CAMILLUS EBOH NIGERIA’S parliament has called on the presidency, armed forces and police to address the country's mounting security crisis on Tuesday, with the lower house urging President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency. The resolutions come as a wave of violence and lawlessness sweeps across Africa's largest economy. Security forces, including the military deployed across most of Nigeria's states, have shown little ability to stem the tide. "The president should immediately declare a state of emergency on security so as to fast track all measures to ensure the restoration of peace in the country," said a resolution…