All Budgets Will Be Passed Within 3 Months From Now On — Ahmed Lawan

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has revealed that from now on, National Assembly will make sure passage of Nigeria’s appropriation bill happens within 3 months of its submission by the executive.

Mr. Ahmed disclosed this when he answered questions from State House correspondents today.

He then shared his hope that the executive will always guarantee early enough submission to make the national assembly clear it for passage asap.

His words, “Well, this is a crucial thing that worries everyone. Every Nigerian wants to see the National Assembly pass the budget in good time and it’s something both of us in the National Assembly have bought into – that we’ll pass the budget within three months by the grace of God.

“But I want to say here that it takes two sides of government to pass the budget in good time.

“I’m sure that the executive side of the government would like to present the budget before the National Assembly in good time – in September or early October.

“By the grace of God, we in the National Assembly will ensure that we carry out the budget defence and do the remaining parts of the processes. Before we leave for Christmas break, the budget would have been passed and Mr President would have the budget before him to assent.”

“It is our desire in the National Assembly that every minister, every chief executive officer of every agency comes to the National Assembly and defend the budget of his agency or her agency before going out of the country.

“That window is going to be available within the one month but that is the only window that is going to be available.

“After that for example, every minister or head of agency who did not come to defend the budget of that institution, the National Assembly would go ahead to work on such a budget appropriately.”