The House of Representatives plans to implement strict measures in assessing the 2025 budget, warning that ministries, departments, and agencies, MDAs, failing to meet established benchmarks could face funding cuts.
This announcement was made by the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, on Tuesday during a briefing with journalists.
On 18 December, President Bola Tinubu presented a budget proposal of ₦49.74 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.
Following its presentation, the House and Senate approved the budget for a second reading.
While most lawmakers remain on holiday, the Committee on Appropriations has started examining the proposal.
On Monday, the committee met with other standing committees to establish guidelines for processing the bill.
READ ALSO: Tinubu presents 2025 budget to National Assembly on Tuesday
The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Bichi, held consultations with other committee chairmen as the MDAs began defending their budget estimates on Tuesday.
Explaining the new criteria, Mr Agbese emphasized that MDAs must provide evidence of implementing the 2024 budget and detail their plans for the proposed budget. He noted that these presentations would guide the committees’ evaluations.
“The leadership, through the committee, has set a very rigorous template that MDAs must meet before we approve any estimates.
“MDAs must show how much they have complied with the due process of law in implementing the previous budget, convince lawmakers about their understanding of the president’s vision in their areas of responsibility, and justify their capacity to spend Nigerian taxpayers’ money.
“Agencies that fail to meet our parameters as a parliament will have no allocation for capital projects in 2025. This is exactly why we are voted in by Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Agbese also highlighted key areas of focus for the House, including health, education, job creation, and the empowerment of youths and women.
“As a House, we have no other interest apart from our collective national interest. All we are interested in is the good of our country and fellow Nigerians. So, as we embark on this important exercise, we will look at critical sectors of the economy capable of stimulating economic growth and act accordingly,” he said.
House sets deadline for budget defence completion – Bichi
In a related development, Mr Bichi revealed that the House intends to conclude the budget defence exercise by 17 January, with the final report expected to be ready by 31 January.
“From tomorrow to the 17th, we are going to conduct our budget defence, and we will likely harmonise on the 22nd. God willing, by the 31st, we are going to lay our reports.
“We are going to study the budget. All our committees will study the budget. I believe the budget is for Nigerians, for our development — infrastructure and other important things. And I am sure Nigerians will be happy with it,” Mr Bichi said.
Crediblenewsng.com
