Reps flag off 2025 budget defence with Ministers, Perm Secs Tuesday

The House of Representatives will on Tuesday formally commence interaction with Ministers and Permanent Secretaries of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in its bid to fast-track the N49.7 trillion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year.

Speaking after the inauguration of the sub-committees, which took place behind closed doors in Abuja, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abubakar Bichi, disclosed that the House will unilaterally determine the budgetary allocation for any erring MDAs that fail to attend the two-week budget defence.

He said: “We had a discussion in terms of budget defence. We’re commencing tomorrow, the 7th of this month, and we’re expecting that all the MDAs, both the ministers and heads of agencies, come up and defend their budgets.

“As Mr President directed them to show up, so that what they have taken in 2024 and what they are going to do in 2025.”

While responding to a question on whether there is any sanction that would be imposed for non-appearance by Ministers and Heads of various Agencies, he said, “Of course, if you don’t show up, that means you don’t have anything to say. So, we can decide on what we’re going to come up with via the budget.”

Reacting to the recommendation of the House Committee on Public Accounts, which called for the removal of 21 MDAs from the 2025 budget for failing to account for their previous budgets, Hon. Bichi said, “That’s the essence of budget defence now. They’re coming, we’ll ask them questions, if we’re comfortable, we can allocate the money; if not, we can do otherwise.”

When asked about the timeline for the passage of the 2025 budget, he said, “It’s a long process, actually; budget defence, harmonisation, then submit the report. We can say maybe towards the end of the month or early next month.”

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