The House of Representatives has confronted President Bola Tinubu’s administration, demanding the immediate submission of the 2025 Budget Proposal.
The motion was moved by Hon. Clement Jimbo on Wednesday citing concerns over the Executive’s failure to comply with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
The Act aims to promote prudent management of the nation’s resources, long-term macroeconomic stability, and greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations. Section 11(1b) stipulates that the Federal Government must submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the National Assembly at least four months before the next financial year.
The resolution said, “The House further notes that Section 11(1b) stipulates that the Federal Government must, not later than four months before the commencement of the next financial year, prepare and lay before the National Assembly an MTEF for the next three financial years.
“The House is concerned that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 30(1) of the FRA 2007, specifically Section 88(1), stipulate 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 with respect to which it has the power to make laws, and into the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry, or government department charged with the duty of executing or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly and managing or distributing monies appropriated by the National Assembly.
“The House is further worried that the time the National Assembly requires to exercise its functions, as enshrined in Section 88(2b), is being compromised by the Executive’s non-compliance with Section 11(1)(b) of the FRA 2007.”
The Reps have mandated the joint Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation, and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.