Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, today dropped a hint that the 2024 budget will be presented to a joint session of the National Assembly in the next few days.
Although he was not specific on when the budget will be presented, the Speaker told chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees of the House that they must consider and finalise the budget within two weeks without compromising the integrity of the process through or engaging in haphazard and superficial consideration.
Speaking at a 1-day retreat for chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees of the House, the Speaker reminded them that committees played a crucial role in the legislative process and had been called the ‘engine room’ of the parliament, adding that through committees, members developed subject-matter expertise and undertake more detailed review and scrutiny of bills and other government policies.
He said the House would convene a budget town hall meeting to enable Nigerian people participate and make input into the 2024 budget, adding that it would be the first time such an engagement was planned at the national level.
The Speaker further said that the House was committed to greater and more transparent engagement with the public as a necessary step towards reducing suspicion, building trust, and generating support for the work of the National Assembly.
