The Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government on Thursday released N300bn for capital projects for the third quarter of the year. The N300bn, according to the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, brings the total release for capital projects so far to N704bn under the 2012 national budget.
The amount was part of the capital votes of ministries, departments and agencies. The budget has a N1.5tn provision for capital projects.
Recalled that members of the House of Representatives had asked the President to achieve 100 per cent implementation of the budget before September 18 or face impeachment proceedings.
Before resolving to issue an ultimatum to the President, the House had in its July 19 sitting condemned the poor implementation of the 2012 budget, lamenting that as of July the budget had achieved a mere 34 per cent performance.
Newsmen gathered that the N300bn released is mostly likely an attempt by the administration to stave off the impeachment threat. The amount is significantly higher than the budget releases for each of the first two quarters of 2012.
Reacting to the new release of funds from Saudi Arabia where he had gone for the lesser hajj, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, on Thursday, said “It is in order.”
Asked whether the release would soften the hearts of the Reps against the President, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor, said “Definitely!”
