The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has advised Bola Tinubu to ensure that his cabinet members do not travel abroad when they are expected to appear before the National Assembly to defend the 2024 budget.
Tinubu had presented a N27.5 trillion proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, and urged the lawmakers to pass the budget in 30 days.
Akpabio, in his response, said that the Senate would consider the 2024 budget for first and second readings on Thursday and Friday, respectively, and then adjourn plenary until December 12 for budget defence sessions with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Akpabio assured Tinubu that the proposals would be thoroughly scrutinized by the lawmakers.
He also appealed to the ministers and heads of government agencies to avoid any travel engagements that would prevent them from honouring the invitation of the National Assembly committees to defend their estimates.
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He said, “We assure you that the proposals you have come to present will be diligently considered accordingly. We approach this moment with a sense of duty, unity, and purpose. To ensure maximum attention to the review of the Year 2023 Budget performance and the consideration of the Year 2024 Proposal, we request that Mr President would mandate Honorable Ministers and Heads of Agencies to avoid any travelling engagements that would prevent them from honouring our invitation to promptly appear before our committees to defend their budget estimates.
As we embark on the journey of reviewing the 2024 Proposal, let us remember that our actions today will shape the future of our nation. Together, let us work towards a budget that reflects the aspirations and dreams of every Nigerian citizen for a greater country.”