The Senate on Wednesday knocked the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) for late submission of its 2022 budget less than three months before the end of the year.
The N607.9 billion budget was submitted to the Senate for consideration and passage five days after President Muhammadu Buhari presented the N20.51 trillion national budget to the National Assembly.
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Senators frowned at the late submission of the budget during debate before it was passed for second reading.
The red chamber consequently ordered the FCT Authority to make available its 2023 budget estimates latest by next week or risk zero allocation for the fiscal year.
Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta), who repeatedly reminded the Senators that the year the budgetary proposal was meant for, is less than three months to end, subtly called for its rejection.
“Mr. President, if I heard the Senate Leader right, the N607 billion appropriation bill, presented for second reading, is for the FCT and to be implemented in the 2022 fiscal year which is less than three months to roll away.
“To me, this is very unfortunate and must be stopped. What were the people saddled with drafting the proposals doing since January? Are they aware that we are already in the 10th month of the year?” he queried.
The Senator representing FCT, Philip Aduda apologized to his colleagues on behalf of the FCT minister for the late submission and appealed for its passage for second reading.
