A Supplementary Appropriation Bill that includes a request for a new presidential jet may be forwarded to the National Assembly on Thursday, it was learnt on Tuesday night according to The Nation.
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. He said: “I will soon bring the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill; that is just for your information.”
The bill, which will detail funding for various needs, will include money for the new presidential jet. To offset the cost, three of the aircraft currently in the Presidential Air Fleet have been put up for sale. One source said: “Mindful of the huge cost, the Presidency has put for sale three jets to fund the purchase of a new one for the President.”
Details of how the Federal Government plans to acquire the jet will be contained in the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, which is being prepared for transmission to the National Assembly ahead of its resumption from break next week, according to the sources. 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 due to the poor state of the jets in the PAF. In recent times, President Tinubu has been using chartered aircraft for official assignments. For instance, he attended the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa flying on a private jet. Vice President Kashim Shettima also had to abort a trip to attend a conference in the United States at the last minute because of issues with his official aircraft.
