The National Assembly is set to pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill at its plenary session holding today.
Lawmakers in both Chambers of the National Assembly cut short their holiday to pass the harmonised budget, as part of determination to maintain the January-December budget cycle.
The plenary sessions is expected to kick off this afternoon, as Lawmakers are arriving gradually to their respective Chambers as at the time of this report.
President Bola Tinubu presented the N27.5 trillion appropriation bill, christened “budget of renewed hope,” on November 29 before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives. To expedite the passage process, both chambers suspended plenary, dedicating the time to budget defense sessions at committee levels.
Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader emphasised the streamlined approach, stating that. “To ensure the passage of the budget, we abridged time, making all ministries, departments, and agencies appear before the joint sitting of relevant committees. This has significantly reduced the time for the budget defense process and eliminated the need for harmonization.”
Bamidele said that the President is expected to have the 2024 appropriation bill at his desk for assent by January 1 to kick off implementation.
