President Bola Tinubu has been urged by the Senate Committee on Gas, in its 10th session, to submit a supplementary budget aimed at facilitating the acquisition of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for nationwide mass transit.
This decision follows recent developments where, during a meeting held last Monday, the federal government, under the leadership of Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, agreed to allocate N100 billion for the procurement of these buses. This resolution was a part of the efforts to avert an impending strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In a statement released on October 3rd, 2023, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, the Chairman of the Senate Gas Committee, emphasized the necessity of adhering to legal procedures in the procurement process. He commended the president for taking the initiative to provide CNG buses, recognizing the potential relief they would bring to citizens.
Jarigbe underscored the importance of complying with budgetary regulations, stating, “The law frowns at extra-budgetary spending. “It will be illegal to spend taxpayers’ money without approval by the National Assembly.” He further emphasized the need for the federal government to secure the required funds through a supplementary budget rather than resorting to the “ways and means” provision provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
