The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan, has announced that the 2025 Appropriation Bill is expected to be passed by the National Assembly by the end of January 2025, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Speaking during a meeting with committee chairpersons in Abuja on Monday, Senator Olamilekan disclosed that the legislative process for the appropriation bill has commenced, with hard copies of the budget already distributed to all senators as working documents. He emphasized that this distribution enables committees to begin engaging government agencies for budget defense.
“The first thing we have succeeded in doing is ensuring that hard copies of these documents are made available to all committees as their working tools. This will enable committees to invite agencies to defend their allocations, starting with personnel costs, followed by overheads and capital expenditures,” he explained.
The Senator further outlined the timeline for budget defense and legislative action, stating that reports from government agencies are expected between January 15 and 18.
“From January 15 to 18, we expect reports from agencies on their budget defense. Thereafter, the Appropriations Committee will commence its review. Our aim is to present the finalized appropriation bill for consideration and passage by both chambers of the National Assembly on or before January 31, 2025,” he stated.
Olamilekan commended his colleagues for their commitment to prioritizing the budget process despite the tight timeline, noting that the 10th National Assembly is determined to meet its legislative obligations.
He added, “We held meetings with members of the Appropriations Committee and the chairpersons of subcommittees to set a clear direction for this process. Despite the time constraints, we remain committed to ensuring the timely passage of this all-important document.”
The Senator urged all committees to work diligently with government agencies to ensure a thorough and efficient budget review process.
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