The Nigerian’s House of Representatives on has called on the Federal Government to urgently transmit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the National Assembly, stressing the need to provide lawmakers with sufficient time to thoroughly examine and pass the 2025 Appropriation Bill once it is submitted.
The appeal was made during the plenary session on Wednesday, where members of the House emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth and efficient budgetary process.
The resolution of the House followed the adoption on of a motion of urgent public importance, moved by the member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Clement Jimbo.
According to him, “The timely submission of the MTEF is critical for legislative scrutiny and for aligning the 2025 national budget with Nigeria’s economic priorities.”
Hon. Jimbo, during his rally of support for the motion he brought before the House titled “Need to Urge the Executive to Comply with Section 11 (1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007,” he emphasized that the law is designed to ensure the prudent management of the nation’s resources.
He stated that its primary aim is to promote long-term macroeconomic stability for the national economy.
The lawmaker pointed to Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which mandates that “the Federal Government must, not later than four months before the commencement of the next financial year, prepare and lay before the National Assembly a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) covering the next three financial years.”
Expressing concern, he also cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, alongside Section 30(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007. Specifically, Section 88(1) of the Constitution grants the National Assembly the authority to “investigate any matter or thing within its legislative purview, as well as the conduct of any person, authority, ministry, or government department responsible for executing laws enacted by the National Assembly or for administering monies appropriated by the legislature.”
According to Jimbo, 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, Hon. 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 review the budget estimates, then it should be four months,” he asserted, highlighting the importance of sufficient time for proper legislative oversight.
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In his contribution, the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, voiced strong support for the motion, emphasizing the need for timely submission of budget estimates to the National Assembly.
He pointed out that unless the estimates are presented promptly, it would be challenging for legislators to thoroughly scrutinize them in the interest of the Nigerian people.
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 of Rivers State, Bob Solomon, lauded the initiator of the motion and called on his colleagues to lend their support.
“We must ensure that we have adequate time to thoroughly review the 2025 budget. The Appropriation Bill is the most crucial piece of legislation we handle. Moving forward, if the Appropriation Bill is submitted without sufficient time for proper consideration, we should refuse to entertain it,” Solomon asserted.
Following the adoption of the motion, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who presided over the plenary session, reiterated the need for both arms of government to collaborate effectively, especially in the area of budget formulation and passage, to prevent delays in the implementation of key projects and programs.
“The early transmission of the MTEF will give the National Assembly enough time to conduct a detailed analysis of the framework before the budget is presented. This will help us fulfill our constitutional mandate of ensuring transparency and accountability in government spending,” Abbas stated.
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.
He further urged the Federal Government to comply with section 11(1)(b) and submit to the National Assembly 2025 Budget proposal without further delays.
Also mandated the Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.
