National Assembly to reconvene over budget, N500bn COVID-19 fund 

The National Assembly is mulling reconvening on Tuesday to consider and possibly approve pending interventions by the Federal Government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crendytech blog learnt on Wednesday that the leadership of the National Assembly was planning to recall members from recess to attend to national issues.

A member of the House, who spoke to one of our correspondents on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said the federal parliament might resume on Tuesday to consider the issues.

The member of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs said, “The National Assembly is likely to reconvene on Tuesday next week and I am sure that the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill will be one of the issues that will be addressed. The Senate will have to consider the bill too for their concurrence, as well as other issues. The Federal Government said it would bring a N500bn request and a revised (2020) budget.”

The lawmakers had embarked on break on March 24, 2020, over the spread of coronavirus disease.

The House had, however, expressed its plan to reconvene for a possible amendment to the 2020 Appropriation Act, as the Federal Government planned to reduce the national budget due to crashing crude oil prices.

The Federal Government had revised downward the revenue projection for the 2020 budget by N3.3tn; from the initial approved amount of N8.41tn to N5.08tn.

The Federal Government also revised downwards the oil price benchmark from $57 per barrel to $30 per barrel.