The Executive, under President Bola Tinubu, has come under fire from the House of Representatives for taking so long to submit the 2025 budget plan to the National Assembly.
The lower house further stated that the Executive’s failure to comply with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 was technically depriving the National Assembly of the time it needed to carry out its duties as outlined in Section 88(2)(b).
The MPs urged the Executive to adhere to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007’s Section 11(1)(b).
They also gave the National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriations, and Finance committees a two-week deadline to guarantee compliance.
The House’s decision came after Clement Jimbo’s motion of urgent public concern, which was adopted during Wednesday’s plenary.
Jimbo made the motion, stating that the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 guarantees the long-term macroeconomic stability of the national economy and allows for the wise management of the country’s resources.
A medium-term fiscal policy framework and the creation of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to guarantee the advancement and implementation of the country’s economic goals, among other things, are also guaranteed, he continued, along with more accountability and transparency in fiscal operations.
Jimbo noted that Section 11(1)(b) requires the Federal Government to compile and present the MTEF for the upcoming three fiscal years to the National Assembly no later than four months prior to the start of the subsequent fiscal year.
In particular, he pointed out that Section 88(1) of the FRA 2007 and Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution state that, subject to other provisions of the 1999 Constitution, each House of the National Assembly has the authority to direct, or cause to be directed, an investigation into any matter or thing about which it has the authority to make laws, as well as into the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry, or department charged or intended to be charged with the duty of or responsibility for carrying out or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly and for allocating or administering funds appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.
The House resolved to “Urge the Executive to comply with section 11(1)(b) and submit to the National Assembly 2025 Budget Proposal without further delays”.
