The joint House of Representatives committees on appropriation and finance have invited the ministers of finance and petroleum resources to appear before it today to defend the N465.6 billion supplementary budget proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also to appear before the joint committees are ministers of defence, national planning and budget, sports, Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), DG Budget Office, GMD of NNPC, ES PPPRA, MD PPMC, heads of army, navy and air force, DG National Sports Commission (NSC) and DG Debts Management Office (DMO).

President Buhari had on November 18 forwarded the N465.6 billion supplementary budget to both chambers of the National Assembly.

Consequently, the House had on November 19 passed the money bill for second reading after a long debate on the matter and referred it to the appropriation and finance committees for further action.

A breakdown of the supplementary budget showed that petroleum subsidy payment would gulp N413.3 billion; operation Zaman Lafiya in the Northeast would be N29.9 billion; Nigerian Army, N17.4 billion; outstanding severance gratuity and allowances of out-gone and incoming legislators and their aides, N10.6 billion; Nigerian Air Force, N8.1 billion and Victims Support Fund, N5 billion.

Others are Nigerian Army outstanding balance from 2015 second quarter, N4.3 billion; margin for increases in costs/recurrent adjustment, N2 billion; All African Games Qualification for Rio 2016 Olympics Games, N1.5 billion; salary for recruitment into the various cadres of the Nigerian military, N3.1 billion among others. (Daily Trust)

•Photo shows the House of Representatives in session.