The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to urgently transmit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to the National Assembly to avail lawmakers ample time to work on the 2025 Appropriation Bill (when submitted).

This is as the lawmakers, drawn across party affiliations, expressed displeasure at the practice of delayed presentation of annual budget proposals to the parliament, leaving the lawmakers with little time to do a good job.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, moved by the member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Clement Jimbo.

Jimbo while rallying support for the motion on the “need to urge the executive to comply with Section 11 (I) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, stated that the law provides for the prudent management of the nation’s resources, and “Ensures long term macro-economic stability of the national economy.”

The lawmaker stated 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 an MTEF for the next three financial years.”

He expressed worry that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as section 30(1) of 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 or thing 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 administrating laws enacted by the National Assembly and for disbursing or administrating monies appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.”

According to him, the time the National Assembly requires to exercise its functions as enshrined in section 88(2)(b) “Is technically being taken away by the non-compliance of section 11(1)(b) of FRA 2007 by the executive.”

In his contribution, Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo State) said the timely late arrival of annual budget proposals “Is one of the ways Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government shortchange Nigerians.

“If it takes four months to go through budget estimates, it should be four months.”

Also contributing, Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda expressed support for the motion, noting that unless budget estimates arrive at the parliament on time; it would be difficult for legislators to scrutinise it in the interest of Nigerians.

He said, “This government prides itself on the adherence to the January-December budget cycle. It is a good development.

“In the 2023 budget, we were practically rushed into completing work on the estimates just to meet up with the January – December cycle.

“This must not happen again. By now, the MTEF should have been with us.”

On his part, the member representing Abua/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Rivers State, Bob Solomon commended the mover of the motion and urged his colleagues to support it.

“We must have the time to support the 2025 budget in detail. The Appropriation Bill is the most important. Henceforth, if they send to us the Appropriation Bill without adequate time, let us not consider it,” he said.

Following the adoption of the motion, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the plenary session, urged the Federal Government to comply with section 11(1)(b) and submit to the National Assembly 2025 Budget proposal without further delays.

It further mandated the Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation, and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.

PUNCH