The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025, emphasizing the need to ensure timely preparation of the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year. The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, titled “Ensuring Long Term Macro-Economic Stability of the National Economy,” sponsored by Rep. Clement Jimbo.
In leading the debate, Jimbo underscored the critical role of the MTEF in facilitating the legislative review of the 2025 Budget, stating that its timely submission would provide lawmakers with ample time to scrutinize the appropriation bill. He cited Section 11(1)(b) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, which mandates the Federal Government to submit the MTEF at least four months before the start of the next financial year and to present it before the National Assembly.
Jimbo also pointed out that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, alongside Section 30(1) of the FRA 2007, empower both chambers of the National Assembly to investigate any government arm or agency that fails to comply with laws governing budget implementation. He warned that failure to transmit the MTEF in a timely manner deprives the National Assembly of the time needed to exercise its constitutional oversight functions as outlined in Section 88(2)(b).
“The time the National Assembly requires to exercise its functions is technically being taken away by the executive’s non-compliance with Section 11(1)(b) of the FRA 2007,” Jimbo argued.
Rep. Billy Osawaru, in his contribution, stressed that delayed budget submissions from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are detrimental to Nigerians, calling for adherence to the four-month review period stipulated by law. He remarked, “If it takes four months to go through budget estimates, it should be four months.”
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda expressed his support for the motion, highlighting the significance of early budget submissions to ensure thorough legislative review. “This government prides itself on adhering to the January-December budget cycle, and it is a good development,” Chinda noted, urging the executive to align its actions with this commitment.
Following the debate, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary, urged the Federal Government to comply with Section 11(1)(b) and submit the 2025 Budget proposal to the National Assembly without further delay. The House also mandated its Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriation, and Finance to ensure compliance within two weeks.
This call for timely submission comes as lawmakers aim to ensure a smooth legislative process for the passage of the 2025 budget, preserving Nigeria’s adherence to a stable macro-economic framework.
