Reps step down debate on N136bn virement 

The House of Representatives on Tuesday stepped down the debate on the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s request for the approval of virement of the sum of N135,643,018,749.

Recall that the Acting President’s 4-page letter dated 18th July, 2017 and addressed to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, explained that the funds will be used for implementation of “some critical priority items for which adequate provisions had not been made in the 2017 Appropriation Act.”

The House however resolved to postphone the consideration of the request due to the absence of Mustapha Dawaki, chairman, House Committee on Appropriation at the plenary.

The request was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations for further legislative action after it was read by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

According to the provisions of the Standing Rules of the House, Dawaki was saddled with the responsibility of leading debate on Appropriation matter.

From the total amount of N135,643,018,749 to be cited from various Ministries, N46,004,049,292 is to be fired from Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; N66 billion from Ministry of Transportation​; N1 billion from ​Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development​​; N7,698,811,674 from ​Federal Ministry of Interior and N3.150 billion from ​Federal Ministry of Defence.

The sum of N770 million is to be vired from ​Federal Ministry of Education; N3 billion from ​Federal Capital Territory Administration; N1 billion from Federal Ministry Health Headquarters; N735,035,000 from ​Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation​; N1,093,579,983 from Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; N729 million from Federal Ministry of Information and Culture; N734 million from Federal Ministry of Communications Technology; N2,387,541,000 from​ Federal Ministry of Water Resources; N1.1 billion from Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and N241,001,800 from Federal Ministry of Environment, respectively.

To this and, the House resolved to step the Appropriation bill down following the adoption of the motion moved by Emmanuel Orker-Jev, chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business.

 
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja