The National Assembly will pass on saturday, December 30, the 2024 appropriation bill. At their respective sessions, both the red and green chambers will vote on the harmonised 2024 budget proposed by the national assembly.
Chinedu Akubueze, the clerk to the senate clerk, said in a statement released to newsmen on saturday morning that the plenary will begin at 1 p.m.
Akubueze’s statement read, “Good morning. Please note that today’s plenary – 30th December 2023 – has been shifted upwards from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.”
Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, said earlier that all federal lawmakers would have to shorten their holidays in order to ensure a prompt passage of the 2024 appropriations bill. The senate leader assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would pass the budget on December 30 by releasing further details on the 2024 appropriation bill.
Bamidele said, “To ensure the passage of the budget, We abridged time to make all ministries, departments and agencies appear before the joint sitting of all the relevant committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
“This has already reduced the time for the budget defence process by half rather than appearing before the Senate first and House of Representatives later. The resolution has also removed the need for harmonisation. In essence, we have been able to save time.
“We have also been sitting beyond our regular sitting days. We have sat on Saturdays. We may even sit on Sunday as we are approaching another year. We only give ourselves three days to go home and celebrate Christmas.
“We are reconvening on December 29. Our hope and determination is to pass by December 30. On January 1, 2024, Mr President will have the 2024 appropriation bill at his desk for assent so that its implementation can take off in earnest.”