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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to stipulate timeline for the presentation of the annual budget by the President to the joint session of the National Assembly.
The proposed legislation sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, is seeking to alter Sections 81 and 121 of the 1999 Constitution( as amended ) to make it mandatory for the President to present the Appropriation Bill, not later than the last working day of September.
The member representing Ohaozara/ Onicha/ Ivo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Kama Nkemkama, who led debate on the bill, on behalf of the deputy speaker, said the proposed legislation is geared towards financial discipline.
Nkemkama said: “This Bill seeks to fundamentally strengthen the foundation of Nigeria’s fiscal governance. It seeks to constitutionally reform the budgeting process, ensuring that our fiscal operations are timely, evidence-based, transparent, and directed towards genuine development outcomes.
“Mr.Speaker, we have all witnessed the recurring challenges that plague the Nigerian budgeting system. From budgets being presented late and passed deep into the fiscal year, to Appropriation Acts that bear little
resemblance to audited performance, to fragmented and non-transparent fiscal reporting at both the federal and state levels.
“These inefficiencies not only undermine economic growth but also erode the public’s trust in government’s ability to manage their resources responsibly. This Bill offers a structural remedy by embedding discipline, transparency, and long-term vision into the Constitution to guide the budget process at all levels of governance.”
The lawmaker explained that key provisions of the bill include: “Provide a constitutional basis for the President to lay the budget estimates to a Joint session of the National Assembly not later than the last working day of September in each year.
“Provide for the submission of audited financial statements for the preceding three (3) years alongside each budget estimate, and to provide basis for the organisation of each budget into five (5) Expenditure Heads with prescribed minimum and maximum ratios to ensure balanced fiscal allocation.
“Provide for the submission of five-year projections for Infrastructure and Human Capital Development; and apply for the application of the same principles to State Governments.”
The proposed legislation, which seeks to compel the government to allocate not less than 30 percent of the budget to infrastructure and not more than than 25 percent to debt obligations, also provides for “preliminary expenditure accounts to accompany supplementary budgets.’
