BREAKING: Senate passes N2.17tn 2023 supplementary budget

• The passage followed the adoption of the report of the harmonised sittings of both chambers on the bill as submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations

The Nigerian Senate has passed the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, recently sent to it by President Bola Tinubu.

The passage followed the adoption of the report of the harmonised sittings of both chambers on the bill as submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC Ogun West).

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration submitted an N2.1 trillion budget to the National Assembly after the Federal Executive Council approval on Monday.

Key components of the budget include N210bn for Wage Award for Civil Servants, N605 billion for National Security and Defence, N300 billion for maintenance of bridges, especially the Eko bridge, and N400 billion for cash transfer to vulnerable households, N200 billion for seed and agricultural inputs and equipment and N18 billion for Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct off-season elections.

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, supervised the oath of office administered to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the newly affirmed Senator representing Kogi Central. The oath was administered by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Chinedu Akubueze.

This pivotal moment followed the recent verdict from the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which affirmed that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election held on February 25 of this year. The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Abubakar Ohere for lacking in merit.

Earlier in September, the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja had nullified the victory of Senator Ohere, who belonged to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Subsequently, the court declared Akpoti-Uduaghan as the legitimate victor of the February senatorial poll.

In response to the court’s decision, Senator Ohere sought redress at the appellate court, which has now upheld Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s victory. This legal journey concluded with the swearing-in ceremony at the Senate, where she received a copy of the Senate Standing Rules from the Senate President and was warmly welcomed by her colleagues.

With the legal battles behind her, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is set to take her place in the Senate, representing the interests of Kogi Central.