The Federal House of Representatives on Tuesday said the early passing and signing of the 2020 Appropriation Bill of N10.594 trillion, is a promise made, promise kept.
Igbere TV had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, December 18, 2019 signed the bill into law, following its passage by the ninth National Assembly.
The development has paved way for the return of Nigeria to a January–December budget cycle, as earlier promised by the Parliament. It is the first time since 1999 that the appropriation bill is signed in December preceeding a new year.
In a statement sent to Igbere TV via mail in Abuja, Reps Spokesperson, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said late passage of budgets in the past contributed negatively to Nigeria’s development, adding that the economy also suffered.
According to him, in a bid to help government operate efficiently in project funding, execution and in meeting up with other expectations of Nigerians in good time, the House made efforts to return the country to a January–December fiscal calendar.
While thanking both chambers of the ninth Assembly for their inputs, Hon. Kalu expressed gratitude to President Buhari for assenting to the budget especially on his birthday, saying it is the best birthday gift to Nigerians.
Full Statement,
Full Statement,
Over the years, the epileptic budget calendar has helped in the underdevelopment of our nation. It is clear that delays in the passage of and assent to the annual Appropriations Bills, to a very large extent has affected, in the negative region, the economy of our dear nation. This has been so because businesses are not able to plan effectively, government has not been able to operate efficiently in project funding, project execution and in meeting up with other implementation expectations of Nigerians in good time.
The House of Representatives, in its Legislative Agenda, Section 2.15, page 72 on National Budget Reforms, pledged to succeed in developing a budget framework that adheres to best practices which provides, among other things, proper timing of the budget calendar and cycle, comprehensive review of the Nigerian budgeting and planning process.
To achieve this, early presentation, passage and assent to the Appropriation Bill are needed in aligning the budget to the January- December fiscal year.
Our constitutional democracy since the 4th Republic has operated in illegality against the purport of Sections 81 and 82 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Altered). Today, true to our pledge in the Legislative Agenda, the budget has been constitutionally aligned to the January–December calendar, thanks to the leadership of the House and various Committees for working assiduously for the achievement of this great milestone.
We commend His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not only for early presentation of the 2020 budget estimates to the National Assembly, but also for the timely assent to the Appropriations Bill, 2020 today, Tuesday 17th December, 2019. Mr. President, this is the best birthday gift you have given to Nigerians. We wish you happy 77th birthday, long life and prosperity.
We commend the leadership of the various MDAs for early defence of their budget estimates. This is the spirit of the Joint Task Project for Nation Building that the 9th Assembly represents. Although we are three arms of government, we remain one government; where the success of one arm is the success of all.
That is why today we celebrate this product of patriotism and nationhood.
The leadership of both Senate and the House of Representatives ably led by Senator (Dr.) Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate and the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives are highly commended for standing with the people of Nigeria in ensuring the achievement of this feat.
We are proud of the Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives for working together on this. This is a confirmation that the 9th Assembly is the people’s parliament where the interest of the citizens is the only driving force in the exercise of our duties.
We encourage Nigerians to support this relationship between the legislature and the Executive for the growth or our nation. We are assuring Nigerians that this relationship shall not be detrimental to the expectations of our constitutional mandates with regards to checks and balances, while upholding the principles of separation of powers. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
