A showdown between the Federal Government and the 36 states is imminent over the planned deduction of N950bn from the allocation due to the states in 2022.
This has premised the meeting of commissioners for finance in all 36 states shortly.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday transmitted the 2022 Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill to the National Assembly, seeking the approval of the federal parliament for a supplementary budget with estimates totalling N150bn.
The President also sought approval for another N2.557tn to extend payment for subsidy on petrol.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, read Buhari’s letter dated February 10, 2022, in plenary.
Buhari’s letter read in part, “An additional provision of N2.557tn will be required to fund the petrol subsidy in 2022. Consequently, the Federation Account (main pool) revenue for the three tiers of government is projected to decline by N2tn, while FGN’s share from the account is projected to reduce by N1.05tn.”
This implies that about N950bn would be deducted from the accounts of the states and local governments.
The Federal Government had proposed an 18-month extension for the implementation of the petroleum industry law to cater for the subsidy shortfall.
