Senators urge Tinubu to present 2023 supplementary budget to kick start CNG Project… 

Barely 48 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced measures to cushion the pains of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians, members of the Senate Committee on Gas, led by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, have urged the Executive to expeditiously present a 2023 Supplementary Budget to the National Assrmbly to kick start his Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project.

They insisted that the law frowns at extra budgetary spending. The committee chairman who commended President Tinubu for the CNG initiative, however, warned that it would be illegal to spend tax payers money or the money without approval by the National Assembly

and other projects in the gas value chain, which are cheaper than the use of fossil fuel.

According to a statement, the senators also advised against extra budgetary expenditure through ‘Ways and Means,’ saying the Legislature was ready to support and bring succour to the people.

Jarigbe commended Tinubu on his CNG revolution to power vehicles. He said the noble initiative would ameliorate the hardship of the citizens.

He also emphasised the need for the President to come up with a supplementary budget to enable the government fund the gas value chain, including the provision for CNG infrastructure and CNG vehicles, adding that the workshops and trainings would need to be funded.

The lawmaker advised the President not to embark on extra- budgetary expenditure because it would be inconsistent with the provisions of the law.

Jarigbe stated that the National Assembly, under the leadership of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was poised to support the lofty programs of his administration, adding that a 2023 supplementary budget would be most appropriate, instead of the ‘Ways and Means’ approach of the previous administration, which is currently a major issue of contention in the Central Bank of Nigeria.