Speaker Tajudeen Abbas of the House of Representatives has announced that the 2024 budget will be passed on December 30. During the resumption of the plenary on Tuesday, Mr. Tajudeen stated that lawmakers would reconvene after the Christmas holiday to deliberate on and approve the budget.
In Nigeria, December 25th and 26th are observed as Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, respectively, and are typically declared public holidays. Mr. Tajudeen emphasized that all committees must submit their reports to the appropriations committee by 6 p.m. on Tuesday to meet the December 30 deadline.
“I want to inform you that the official presentation and passage of the budget will be scheduled for Saturday, December 30, 2023. In the meantime, activities such as harmonization, compilation, and processing of the bill will take place. Those planning to celebrate Christmas are expected to return to participate,” the speaker stated.
President Bola Tinubu had presented the 2024 budget proposal of N27.5 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly in November. Following its second reading, the House referred the bill to the appropriations committee for further legislative action.
The lawmakers face a tight deadline to ensure the passage of the bill before January 1 to maintain the January to December budget cycle. The House had adjourned plenary on December 1, with a plan to reconvene on December 12 to allow committees to conduct public hearings on the budget proposal. The adjournment was later extended by one week to December 19.
Source: Premium Times