The House of Representatives has chided the Executive, led by President Bola Tinubu, over delays in submitting the 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly four months before the end of every fiscal year as required by law.
The lower chamber added that the time the National Assembly required to exercise its functions as enshrined in Section 88(2)(b) was technically being taken away by the non-compliance with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 by the Executive.
The lawmakers called on the Executive to comply with Section 11(1)(b) of Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
They also mandated the committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation and Finance to ensure compliance within 2 weeks.
The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved at plenary on Wednesday by Clement Jimbo.
Moving the motion, Jimbo said the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 provides for the prudent management of the nation’s resources and ensures long-term macroeconomic stability of the national economy.
He added that it also secures greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within a medium term fiscal policy framework and the establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to ensure the promotion and enforcement of the nation’s economic objectives and for related matters.
Jimbo pointed out that Section 11(1)(b) stipulates that the Federal Government must, not later than four months before the commencement of the next financial year, cause to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly, the MTEF for the next three financial years.
He noted that Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Section 30(1) of FRA 2007, specifically, Section 88(1), stipulates that subject to other provisions of the 1999 Constitution, each House of the National Assembly shall have the power, by passing resolutions, to direct, or cause to be directed, an investigation into any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws, and into the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry of government department charged or intended to be charged with the duty of or responsibility for executing of administering laws enacted by the National Assembly and for disbursing or administrating monies 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”.
Consequently, the House mandated the joint Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation, and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.
