Reps urge Tinubu to present 2025 Budget now
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives criticized the executive’s delay in presenting the 2025 budget estimates to the National Assembly, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expedite the submission of the budget proposals to Parliament.
The House urged the Executive to adhere to section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and promptly submit the 2025 Budget Proposal to the National Assembly without any further delays.
The resolution came after Rep. Clement Jumbo moved a motion of urgent national importance.
In his remarks, Jumbo expressed concern that the executive branch had not submitted the 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Appropriation Bill for 2025, as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).
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He noted that the Fiscal Responsibility Act requires the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Appropriation Bills to be submitted to the National Assembly at least four months before the end of the financial year.
According to newsmen, the current budget cycle is set to conclude on December 31, 2024, which is just two and a half months away.
Jumbo emphasized that a delayed presentation of the Appropriation Bill would prevent lawmakers from adequately scrutinizing the budget document before its passage.
Reps Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, supporting the motion, called on members from all parties to back it. He expressed frustration that the late submission of the 2024 Appropriation Bill had pressured lawmakers to rush through the budget last year.
Chinda pointed out that a similar situation is already unfolding this year, urging the executive to submit the appropriation bill on time.
Solomon Bob also supported the motion, suggesting that the House might need to consider rejecting any budget presented late.
The motion was unanimously adopted and referred to the National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriations, and Finance committees to ensure compliance within two weeks.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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