Despite reports suggesting that the National Assembly would pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N27.5 trillion on December 19, 2023, senators have not yet received a copy of the budget for scrutiny, according to reliable sources.
President Bola Tinubu presented the 2024 Budget, titled ‘Budget of Renewed Hope,’ to a joint session of the National Assembly last Wednesday. On Friday, both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the budget for a second reading. During the plenary session, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau hinted at the possibility of passing the budget on December 19 before the Christmas and New Year break.
Despite senators acknowledging President Tinubu’s intentions for the country, many have expressed dissatisfaction with the failure of the executive to provide detailed information on the budget. The budget was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, with a mandate to submit the report by December 19.
However, as of Tuesday, senators have not received copies of the budget for thorough scrutiny. Sources revealed that senators are facing pressure from the presidency to pass the budget without having access to the necessary details.
According to an anonymous senator, passing a national budget without access to detailed information is challenging. The senator expressed concerns about potential padding in the budget and emphasized the importance of having a copy for informed contributions during the debate. Access to the budget details would also allow senators to assess how it impacts different senatorial districts.
