During the presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill by President Bola Tinubu, Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, emphasised the crucial need for the Tinubu-led government to deliver on its promises and address the challenges faced by millions of Nigerians.
Speaker Abbas stressed that the government must provide swift and sustainable solutions to the difficulties experienced by citizens.
He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s track record and called on the administration not to fail the expectations of the people.
In his address, Speaker Abbas highlighted the importance of viewing the budget not merely as a financial document but as a reflection of the collective commitment to addressing the critical needs of the citizens.
He emphasised the need for prioritizing social welfare programs to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality, along with a focus on job creation and youth empowerment.
The Speaker underscored the significance of investing in education and healthcare for human capital development and a more productive workforce.
Infrastructure development was identified as another critical area requiring attention for economic growth.
Addressing the challenges of high public debt, Speaker Abbas assured that the National Assembly would work towards ensuring concrete strategies for sustainable debt management in the 2024 budget.
This includes measures to increase revenue through tax reform, fiscal adjustments, subsidy reforms, foreign exchange convergence, and centralised revenue collection.
The urgent call for revenue-generating agencies to double their targets was made to meet the projected N18 trillion revenue in the budget.
Speaker Abbas emphasised that the effectiveness and legitimacy of fiscal policies rely on strong public support.
Source: Peoples Gazette