2022 budget proposal will undergo strict scrutiny, says Gbaja 

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, says the national assembly will give timely consideration to the 2022 appropriation bill. 

Gbajabiamila spoke on Thursday at a joint session of the national assembly in Abuja after President Muhammadu Buhari presented the N16.39trillion appropriation bill.

Gbajabiamila said the national assembly will ensure that the budget proposal is “strictly scrutinised”.

“When we resumed in the ninth assembly, we committed to pursuing long-awaited and critical reforms to the appropriations process to ensure that we are better able to deliver on the promise of our national development,” he said.

“Over the last two budget cycles, by the joint effort of the executive and legislature, we have made significant progress in this regard and achieved reforms that will stand the test of time and count in our favour.

“These reforms, including establishing a January to December budget cycle, improving oversight procedures, and ensuring greater fidelity to the letter and spirit of our appropriation laws, have led to measurable improvements in public infrastructure, access to education and housing, healthcare and transportation, amongst others. These improvements, which have had a positive impact on the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country, inspire us to do more.

“When Mr president came to this hallowed chamber almost exactly a year ago today, I spoke about our rapidly changing world and the need to use the national budget to prepare our country and our people for the challenges and opportunities of this new age.

“Today, innovations in technology, the changing nature of global trade, the challenges of cross-border insecurity and the increasing interdependence of nations, each and together, continue to present challenges we must overcome and opportunities we must embrace.

“Therefore, as legislators and leaders in government, we have a continued obligation to ensure that in considering this appropriation bill, we make all deliberate efforts to ensure that we continue to make critical investments in education and healthcare, public infrastructure and national security.

“Through these investments, we can hope to build an economy that provides enough well-paying jobs for our young population so that we can, in our lifetime, end endemic poverty in our country and eradicate the social ills that derive therefrom.

“I have seen legislators working through the day and night, forgoing all other considerations in a joint effort to deliver a national budget that meets the highest expectations of the Nigerian people.

“Therefore, I am confident that the national assembly will give this appropriation bill the prompt consideration it demands. And for the next two to there months, we bid for the strictest scrutiny of the budget estimates.

“However, let me use this opportunity to say to the heads of ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government of Nigeria that the determination of the national assembly to deliver a timely budget will not derogate from our responsibility to ensure exhaustive consideration of the bill.

“We will demand a thorough accounting for the funds previously appropriated, disbursed and expended. And we will take steps to hold to account those who fail to provide the records we need to make informed decisions on the appropriation bill. This is the responsibility of the national assembly, and we will live up to it.”

The speaker said the national assembly will ensure that necessary allocation is given to primary education and national security.