The Joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriation has announced its preparedness to pass the 2024 appropriation bill before the end of the week. The committee issued a 48-hour deadline for all sub-committees to submit their reports on the N27.5 trillion budget, setting the stage for President Bola Tinubu to sign it into law before the close of December.
Senator Solomon Adeola, the chairman of the appropriation committee, emphasized the urgency of adhering to the deadline to ensure that the National Assembly meets the January-December budget cycle. He urged all sub-committees to submit their reports by Wednesday, indicating that failure to do so would empower the committee to proceed with the budget independently.
Adeola highlighted the committee’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and emphasized the need for timely submissions to facilitate the passage of the budget upon the resumption of plenary on December 20. He acknowledged the challenges faced by all but stressed the importance of meeting the December 31 deadline for passing the budget into law.
Sub-committee reports submitted on Monday addressed various issues, including the plight of 136 Nigerians trapped in Ethiopian prisons and the allocation of N5 billion to revamp the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State. The Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations submitted their respective reports.
Senator Victor Umeh, the head of the Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations Committee, highlighted the challenges faced by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) due to inadequate funding. Umeh recommended a capital budget of N4.9 billion for NIDCOM, focusing on addressing the situation of Nigerians in foreign prisons and organizing Diaspora summits.
Adeola assured that the appropriation committee would review the report and prioritize the crucial work undertaken by NIDCOM. Regarding the allocation of N5 billion for the Obudu Cattle Ranch, the committee expressed its commitment to investigate how the funds would be spent to ensure equitable distribution and effective promotion of tourism in the country.