Barring last-minute changes, members of the House of Representatives are expected to resume plenary activities inside the chambers on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, as the chamber is currently undergoing renovation.
The Clerk to the House of Representatives, Barrister Yahaya Danzaria, in an internal memo sent to all the members, also announced a new date for the resumption of members from the Easter and Sallah celebrations recess.
The memo reads: “I write to respectfully inform you that the resumption date from the ongoing recess has been rescheduled from Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to allow for the completion of renovations to the chamber of the House of Representatives, ensuring its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth.
“All inconveniences are highly regretted. Your understanding and cooperation regarding this change are highly appreciated.
“Please make necessary adjustments to your schedules and ensure your presence on the new resumption date.
“I wish you all productive constituency engagements during this extended recess period. Please stay safe and take all necessary precautions,” the Clerk urged.
Recall that before adjourning for the Easter and Sallah recess on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the House approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for the extension of the implementation of the N21.827 trillion Appropriation Act, 2023, as well as the N2.177 trillion Supplementary Act, 2023, from December 31, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
Analysis of the 2023 Appropriation Act showed that the sum of N967,486,010,536 was for Statutory Transfers; N6,557,597,611,797 was for Debt Service; N8,329,370,195,637 was for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure while the sum of N5,972,734,929,421 was for contributions to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2023.
Part of the funds approved include: the sum of N30,173,520,592 for Severance/Inauguration of Outgoing and Incoming 9th and 10th Assembly (Legislators and Legislative Aides); N30,492,518,529 for National Assembly Office; N33,267,001,807 for the Senate; N51,994,511,954 for the House of Representatives; N10,555,809,322 for the National Assembly Service Commission; N16,520,653,763 for Legislative Aides; N118,970,215 for PAC – Senate; N142,764,258 for PAC – House of Representatives; N11,307,475,470 for General Services; N7,411,813,596 for the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS); N671,335,001 for Service Wide Vote; N1,059,121,701 for the Office of Retired Clerks and Permanent Secretaries.
Similarly, the House approved the sum of N125,000,000 for the Appropriation Committee Department – Senate; N165,000,000 for the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation; N4.250 billion for the ongoing National Assembly Library Building; N127,500,000 for hosting the Conference of Speakers of the African Parliament (COSAP); N8.500 billion for NASS liabilities; N255,000,000 for the NASS E-Library; N118,150,000 for the NASS Dashboard; N850,000,000 for Constitution Review; N7.500 billion for the completion of the NASS Library Complex; N2.500 billion for the completion of the NILDS Headquarters; while N10 billion was allocated for the Construction of the NASC building.
The House also gave its nod for the extension of the implementation of the N2.177 trillion Supplementary Appropriation Act to June 30, 2024.