President Tinubu to present supplementary budget to National Assembly

A Supplementary Appropriation Bill containing request for a new presidential jet may be forwarded to the National Assembly tomorrow, it was learnt last night.

During his May 29 speech to the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives at the National Assembly complex, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu told the lawmakers to expect the extra budget for the 2024 fiscal year, reports The Nation.

He said: “I will soon bring the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill; that is just for your information.”

The money for the jet will be included in the supplementary appropriation. Three of the aircraft in the PAF have been put on sale to augment the cost.

“Mindful of the huge cost, the presidency has put for sale three jets to fund the purchase of a new one for the president,” one of the sources said last night.

Details of how the federal government plans to acquire the jet will be contained in the Supplementary Appropriation Bill being prepared for transmission to the National Assembly ahead of its resumption from break next week, the sources said.

They expressed confidence that the Assembly will give the Bill speedy consideration in view of the urgency of the request.

The need for a new jet for the Presidency has become compelling in view of the poor state of jets in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).

President Tinubu in recent time, has been flying chartered aircraft on official assignment.

He attended the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa flying on a private jet.

Vice President Kashim Shettima aborted a trip to attend a conference in the United States (U.S.) in the last minute because of the situation with his official aircraft.