Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, praised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for their commitment to passing the 2024 budget before the close of 2023.
Agbese also commended Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Bichi, and all members of the 10th Assembly for their dedication to the nation’s development.
During a special plenary session, the lawmakers passed a N28.7 trillion budget for 2024, exceeding President Bola Tinubu’s proposed N27.5 trillion by N1.27 trillion.
Of the N28.7 trillion, N1.7 trillion was earmarked for statutory transfers, recurrent expenditure stood at N8.77 trillion, capital expenditure at N9.99 trillion, and debt service amounted to N8.27 trillion.
Bichi clarified the rationale behind increasing the budget, citing commitments from revenue-generating agencies and Government Owned Enterprises to substantially boost revenue in 2024 to support the budget.
In response, Agbese expressed admiration for his colleagues’ efforts in fulfilling their promise to pass the budget.
This sacrifice, Agbese stressed, “will not be taken for granted,” adding that “the 10th House is known for creating discomfort for its members, in order to make Nigerians comfortable. This is the People’s House, and I’m glad that the people are better off with the kind of leadership being provided here”.
He recalled how the House adjourned its plenary for three weeks to enable various committees to interface with relevant agencies in a bid to carefully study the budget proposal.
He continued, “At a point, we were almost going to spend our Christmas celebrations in the office. We had to suspend the House rules and were coming to the National Assembly on non-working days (weekends) and many times staying back at non-office hours.
“At a time when everyone was out of their stations preparing for the New Year celebration with their families, we came all out for the budget to be passed. I thank God we fulfilled our promise. The 10th House under Tajudeen Abbas must be commended for this.
“I’m sure too, that the executive would be glad that the legislative arm lived up to its mandate and expectations. We are in alignment with the manifestos contained in the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu and with the resolve of all of us to sustain Nigeria on the pedestal of the January-December budget circle”.
Hon. Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, also commended the decision of the Bichi-led Appropriation Committee for allocating the differential N1.27 trillion to the capital component rather than recurrent expenditure.
“This is a good decision. This is the first time the capital component of the nation’s budget is bigger than recurrent,” he added.