Ban Your Ministers From Traveling During Budget Defence— Akpabio Says As Tinubu Demands 30-days Timeline For Passage

Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged President Bola Tinubu not to allow his cabinet members travel during the defence of the 2024 budget before the National Assembly.

He said this when the president presented N27.5trn budget proposal before a joint session of the National Assembly, on Wednesday.

Tinubu had appealed to the lawmakers to pass the budget within 30 days.

While addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2024 budget proposal, Tinubu said the speedy passage of the fiscal estimates was to sustain the January-December budget calendar, started by the last administration.

The budget has an aggregate expenditure of 27.5 trillion naira, of which the non-debt recurrent expenditure is 9.92 trillion naira while debt service is projected to be 8.25 trillion naira and capital expenditure is 8.7 trillion naira.

Budget deficit is projected at 9.18 trillion naira in 2024 or 3.88 percent of GDP. This is lower than the N13.78 trillion deficit recorded in 2023 which represents 6.11 percent of GDP.

Tinubu said the deficit will be financed by new borrowings totalling 7.83 trillion naira, 298.49 billion naira from Privatization Proceeds and 1.05 trillion naira drawdown on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects.

“As you consider the 2024 budget estimates, we trust that the legislative review process will be conducted with a view to sustaining our desired return to a predictable January-December fiscal year.”

“I have no doubt that you will be guided by the interest of all Nigerians. We must ensure that only projects and programmes with equitable benefits are allowed into the 2024 budget.

“Additionally, only projects and programmes which are in line with the sectoral mandates of MDAs and which are capable of realizing the vision of our Government should be included in the budget,” Tinubu told the lawmakers.

Responding, the senate president said the lawmakers will, on Thursday and Friday, consider the 2024 budget for first and second readings and then adjourn plenary till December 12 for budget defence with MDAs.

He assured President Tinubu that the budget proposals will be diligently considered accordingly.

He therefore urged ministers and the heads of government agencies to shun travelling engagements during the budget scrutiny.

Akpabio said, “We assure you that the proposals you have come to present will be diligently considered accordingly.

“We approach this moment with a sense of duty, unity, and purpose. To ensure maximum attention to the review of the Year 2023 Budget performance and the consideration of the Year 2024 Budget Proposal, we request that Mr President would mandate Honorable Ministers and Heads of Agencies to avoid any travelling engagements that would prevent them from honoring our invitation to promptly appear before our committees to defend their budget estimates.

“As we embark on the journey of reviewing the 2024 budget, let us remember that our actions today will shape the future of our nation. Together, let us work towards a budget that reflects the aspirations and dreams of every Nigerian citizen for a greater country.”