‘Problems’ in Buhari’s 2023 budget stalls passage

National Assembly He has postponed the approval of the 2023 budget until next week due to the “problems” found in the budget.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan made the announcement at the start of Thursday’s plenary.

He said that the members of parliament could not approve the budget because it came with “some problems” found by the National Assembly’s Committees on Finances.

“The Bill on Cross-Cutting came to the National Assembly with some problems and when the figures of what was done and presented by the Appropriations Committee in the Senate and the House of Representatives began to be reconciled.

“The problems were obvious and not easy to deal with and the Committees had to start a process to clear the bill. That process engaged the Executive because the problem came from them. They (the committees) came to a conclusion only yesterday,” he explained.

Lawan did not elaborate on the type of “problems” found in the budget.

He simply informed his colleagues that the commission’s secretariat could not finish processing the report. And that they cannot present “today or tomorrow… nor on Monday and Tuesday because of the holidays”.

“Consequently, next week, on Wednesday, the 28th, we will only receive and analyze the report,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari presented the N20.5 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year in October.

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During the budget defense sessions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, some disagreements were recorded, such as budget compliance.

While Mr. Lawan boasted that the ninth Assembly has done so much to pass the previous appropriation before the end of the year, he hoped that it would remain one of their cherished legacies.

More work

The Senate President also announced that the Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on the Finance Bill on Thursday. The Financial Bill is the basis for building the budget.

“We had intended that the committee would present its report on the financial bill today. But that will not be possible,” he said. “We also received two communications from the executive: the additional budget and the road bill. The committee of finance and credit, water resources, works and housing will process the bills from today.”

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The Senate then adjourned the plenary session to continue legislative work on reports to their respective committees.

Lawmakers are expected to reconvene after Christmas to consider and approve the 2023 budget and other necessary reports.