4 hours ago
1 ARTICLE AD
Senate President Godswill Akpabio
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, stated that the Committee on Appropriations is likely to present its report on the 2025 budget proposal for consideration and possible passage by the upper chamber on Wednesday.
Akpabio, while presiding over the plenary, said federal lawmakers might begin considering the N54.2tn budget estimates immediately after its presentation.
He noted that attendance at Tuesday’s plenary was low because members of the Appropriations Committee were conducting final checks to ensure the budget estimates aligned with the country’s best interests.
His remarks followed a debate on a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Agriculture in Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
He urged his colleagues to conclude the debate promptly to focus on finalising the 2025 budget proposal.
“You will observe that some of our colleagues are not in the chamber because they are finalising the 2025 Appropriation Bill, the report of which will possibly be laid before us tomorrow (Wednesday) or the day after (Thursday).
“We need to close early to allow for collective efforts in that direction for the final consideration and passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill,” he said.
The Senate and the House of Representatives had initially set January 31, 2025, as the deadline for passing the N49.7tn budget proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
However, both chambers postponed their Christmas and New Year resumption from January 31 to February 4, 2025.
On resumption, both chambers received a communication from President Tinubu increasing the proposed budget from N49.7tn to N54.2tn.
Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in separate remarks after reading the letter, stated that the budget would need to be revised to accommodate an additional N4.5tn.
Following the letter’s reading, Akpabio urged the Committee on Appropriations to expedite action on the proposal to ensure its passage before the end of February.
