Senate approves N3.6trn for fuel subsidy in 2023

The Senate has approved the 23-25 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategic Paper (FSP) ahead of the presentation of the 2023 Budget proposals by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

This was made known via a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Mohammed Isa.

Isa stated that the Senate gave the approval following the consideration of the report of its Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning on the 2023-25 MTEF and FSP which President Buhari recently proposed to the National Assembly.

The report was presented by the chairman of the Committee, Senator Adeola Olamilekan (APC-Lagos West).

He noted that after the debate on the report, the Senate approved, for 2023, the oil price benchmark of US$73 per barrel of crude oil and sustained, as contained in the MTEF/FSP documents, the exchange rate of N437.57 to one dollar.

He said the Senate also approved the sum of N3.6 trillion as subsidy on petroleum products for 2023.

Other parameters approved include “projected new borrowings of N8.437 trillion, including foreign and domestic borrowings subject to the approval of the provisions of details of the borrowing plan by the National Assembly.

“A retained revenue of N9.352 trillion as a result of increase in the oil benchmark, fiscal deficit of N10.563 trillion, Statutory transfers, totalling N722.11 billion; debt service estimate of N6.31 trillion; sinking fund at N247.7 billion; pensions, gratuities, and Retirees benefits at N827.8 billion,” Isa added.

He noted that the Senate further recommended for comprehensive review of waiver policy to ensure that only companies engaged in manufacturing and production are granted such waivers.

He added that the upper chamber of the National Assembly also granted relevant oversight committees of the National Assembly the liberty to remove recycled projects in their budget proposals during the committees’ budget defence.

The Star