The supplementary appropriation approved by lawmakers on Friday night amounts to D557, 458, 585.00
The National Assembly members have approved over half a billion dalasi supplementary appropriation brought to the lawmaking body by finance minister Mamburay Njie on Friday night.
The finance minister whose over D1.2 billion supplementary appropriation was rejected last week brought a reduced D557 million appropriation bill which was passed by a light margin.
The minister claimed the appropriation was for farmers’ fertilizer, flying in of Cuban doctors and salaries of workers at various ministries.
The bill contained over 32 million for the Defense Ministry, over 33 million for the Interior Ministry, over 402 million for Centralized Services and over 89 million for the Basic and Secondary Education Ministry.
“This National Assembly is not going to be remote controlled… My conscience cannot allow me to accept a bill that I rejected last week on grounds that it is unlawful…,” said Alagie Darboe of Brikama North.
Other key members of the lawmaking body such as Halifa Sallah of Serrekunda Central, Ousman Sillah of Banjul North and Amul Nyassi of Foni Kansala, among others, vehemently opposed the bill.
The lawmakers from the United Democratic Party were divided on the bill with 8 supporting and 11 opposing while all the five members of National Reconciliation Party were in support.
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