By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives is set to begin the 2025 budget defense session with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. This development comes after President Bola Tinubu presented the N49.74 trillion 2025 Budget (Appropriation Bill) before a joint session of the National Assembly on December 18, 2024.
According to the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, the budget defense will last until January 17, 2025. Reports from the exercise are expected to be harmonized on January 22, while the Appropriations Committee’s report will be laid at plenary on January 31st.
Bichi assured that the panel and standing committees will be thorough with the budget defense in the interest of Nigerians. He stated that the budget is for Nigerians, focusing on development, infrastructure, and other important things.
The House passed the budget through second reading on December 19, 2024, and referred it to the Appropriations Committee with all Standing Committees as sub-committees for further legislative action.
Bichi emphasized that the parliament will scrutinize the proposed budgetary expenditure, revenues, and other issues contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The budget defense session is a critical step in the legislative process, allowing lawmakers to examine the budget proposals and ensure they align with national priorities.
The House Committee on Appropriations will work closely with other standing committees to review the budget and identify areas for improvement.
Bichi noted that agencies that fail to appear for budget defense will be sanctioned, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in the budgeting process.
The Senate has also indicated that the passage of the 2025 budget is unlikely before January 31, 2025. The joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives will begin meetings with MDAs on January 7, 2025.
The final report by the joint appropriations committees of the Senate and House of Representatives is expected to be laid on January 31, 2025.
The budget proposal has undergone significant scrutiny, with lawmakers working to ensure that it addresses the needs and priorities of Nigerians.
As the budget defense session progresses, lawmakers will continue to examine the budget proposals and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that the final budget is in the best interest of Nigerians.
The outcome of the budget defense session will have a significant impact on the country’s development and growth, making it a critical step in the legislative process.
