Gbeleyi Abayomi
As the federal government struggles to get the economy back on the way, President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the National Assembly, both Senate and the House of Representatives, to approve a fresh loan of $5.513 billion.
The request was made known in a letter read by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the plenary on Thursday, the president said the loan was to finance the 2020 budget deficit, financing of critical projects, and supporting some states of the federation.
Similarly a replicate letter was read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan during the Senate plenary, on Thursday.
The president also presented a revised 2020 Appropriation Bill and the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper to both chambers of the National Assembly.
The house had earlier in May given approval for the president to borrow N850 billion for the government. The Senate earlier approved the N850 billion in April.
That N850 billion loan, according to the Debt Management Office, was not new but a conversion of a planned external loan to domestic borrowing.
Details later
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