The House of Representatives has assured that it will pass 2024 budget before the end of the year.
Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Kabir Bichi, who disclosed this said the House would stand by established precedent of ensuring compliance with the Financial Year Act through budget passage on or before December 31 of each financial year.
The House noted that this would enable the Federal Government to comply with the January to December implementation cycle.
The committee chairman said the development would make the budget implementation cycle operational and achievable.
He said the Appropriation Committee was 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.
Bichi stressed that this power would be effectively utilised to exercise oversight jurisdiction over relevant agencies, such as the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and the National Economic Intelligence Agency among others, to monitor the budget implementation.
He explained that his committee would hold a strategic meeting with the Chairmen of Finance, National Planning and Aids, Loans and Debt Management, among others, to gather data for facilitating effective function of the committee.
He also said the committee would hold pre-budget meetings with relevant MDAs to ensure a sustainable collaboration, especially with its sister committee in the Senate and other relevant stakeholders.
