Reps approve Buhari’s N22.7trn CBN loan restructure request

The House of Representatives has approved the request by President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the N22.7 trillion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) extended to the Federal Government under its Ways and Means provision.

The Ways and Means provision allows the government to borrow from the apex bank if it needs short-term or emergency finance to fund delayed government expected cash receipts of fiscal deficits.

The Federal Government had said it would repay the loan which as at December, 2022 stood at N22.7 trillion with securities such as treasury bills and bonds issuance.

Buhari had in December last year, asked both chambers of the National Assembly to approve the proposal.

But the lawmakers could not consider the request before proceeding for the election, Easter and Ramadan breaks.

However after resumption on Tuesday, the Senate approved the request on Wednesday while the House of Representatives followed suit on Thursday.

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That followed the consideration and approval of the report of the Committee on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debt Management, standing in the name James Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos) by the Committee of Supply.

The report ask the House to: “approve the requested additional N1 trillion Ways and Means advances for the implementation
of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act as passed by the National Assembly.

“Approve the Securitisation of the total outstanding Ways and Means amount under the following
terms: amount, N23,719,703,774,306.90; tenor 40 years; moratorium on principal repayment three years; pricing/interest rate 9 percent per annum.”

Also at the plenary, the adhoc committees saddled with the investigation of the volume of fuel consumed daily, and state of refineries, laid its findings and recommendations for consideration.

In his remarks at the reports were laid, Idris Wase, the deputy speaker, who presided over the plenary session said the report would be considered next week Tuesday and directed the clerk to make copies of the reports available to members

“Clerk please ensure all members get copies of this reports before Tuesday, because they are important and will help in decision making for the outgoing and incoming government,” Wase said.