The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, has assured that it would consider and speedily pass the 2024 budget, when President Bola Tinubu presents the bill before the National Assembly.
The committee also vowed to strengthen its oversight jurisdiction over relevant government agencies in its monitoring of the budget implementation by the over 900 MDAs.
Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Bichi, who stated this at the inaugural meeting of the committee Tuesday, said the House will ensure the sustenance of the long established precedent of ensuring compliance with the Financial Year Act through budget passage on or before 31 December of each financial year. He stated that this development will no doubt make the budget implementation from January to December operational and achievable.
His words: “It is significant to note that the Appropriations Committee stands as one of the most prominent committees that champion the course of law- making through appropriations of funds to run the affairs of government by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government. This makes the Committee enjoy a wider jurisdiction in comparison with other standing committees.
“More significantly, the committee is empowered by Order 20, Rule 15 of the House of Representatives Standing Orders, 10th Edition, 2020 as Amended to coordinate, monitor, and supervise the implementation of all Appropriation Acts after passage by the National Assembly.
“This power will be effectively utilised to exercise oversight jurisdiction over relevant agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and National Economic Intelligence Agency among others to monitor the budget implementation.”
