October 16, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives has directed President Bola Tinubu to immediately comply with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 by submitting the 2025 Budget Proposal to the National Assembly without delay.
THEWILL reports that the lawmakers issued the directive following the adoption of an urgent motion moved at plenary on Wednesday by Hon. Clement Jimbo.
Noting the delay by the executive arm of government to submit the 2025 budget, Jimbo expressed concerns that the action would affect the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight as outlined in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution.
The lawmaker said 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.
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 Medium Term Fiscal Policy Framework (MTEF) for the next three financial years.
He noted that Sections 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.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Executive to comply with Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
“Urge the Executive to comply with section 11(1)(b) and submit to the National Assembly 2025 Budget Proposal without further delays”, the House ordered and directed its Committees on National Planning, Economic Development, Appropriation, and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.
