The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Kabir Bichi, yesterday explained that the N2,176,791,286,033 Supplementary Appropriation Bill was aimed at boosting food security.

The Kano born lawmaker also listed security, food and critical road infrastructure and the provision of housing and urban renewal as other benefits derivable by Nigerians after the passage of the budget.

He further explained that the monetary provision will also support the provisional wage to workers and cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians as well as cater to the upcoming off-cycle elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.

According to him, out of the sum of 476,543,847,421 proposed for Ministry of Defence, the sum of N215,937,945,659 is for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N260,605,901,762 is for capital expenditure.

Out of total sum of N200 billion proposed for Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the sum of N104.800 billion is for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N95.200 billion is for capital expenditure.

From the sum of N50 billion proposed for Police Formations and Commands, the sum of N29,661,660,269 is for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N20,338,339,731 is for capital expenditure.

Out of total sum of N29,700,606,916 proposed for office of National Security Adviser, the sum of N27,402,410,057 is for recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N2,298,196,859 is for capital expenditure.

The sum of N100 billion was also proposed for Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT); N49,046,831,697 is for Department of State Services (DSS); N28 billion is for State House; N300 billion is for Federal Ministry of Works; N100 billion is for Federal Ministry of Housing; N615 billion is for Service Wide Vote; N210.500 is for Capital supplementation; while the sum of N18 billion is for Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We have invited the relevant MDAs to defend and shed more light on their submissions. At the end of the hearing, we will collate our analysis in a report and send it back to the House.

“I have divided this into two sections – We will start with the Non-security agencies, and later, we will go into an executive section for the Security Agencies,” Hon. Bichi said.

In his address, Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara observed that out of the total sum of N300 billion requested for by the FCT administration, only N100 billion request was sent by the Executive for the approval of the Legislature.

He however assured that the balance of N200 billion will be captured and considered during the 2024 budget defence.

The Committee on Appropriation is billed to lay the report of the budget defence before the House today for final passage into law.