By Fatima Mukhtar
The Senate has issued a two-week ultimatum to the executive arm of government to present a comprehensive and documented report detailing the implementation of the 2024 budget, as well as projections for the 2025 fiscal year.
The directive, which came during Thursday’s plenary session, is a prerequisite before the upper chamber will begin deliberations on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
Lawmakers insisted that the executive must account for capital releases, recurrent expenditures, and performance indices across key ministries and agencies. They argued that such data is critical to guide fiscal planning and ensure transparency ahead of the 2025 budget process.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, stressed the importance of accountability in public spending.
“The Senate cannot proceed with consideration of the MTEF until we have a clear picture of how the 2024 budget has performed,” Akpabio said. “We owe Nigerians transparency, and that begins with a proper report on how public funds have been utilized.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, noted that the legislature needs accurate budget performance data to make informed fiscal projections.
“We cannot continue to make assumptions without evidence. The executive must provide detailed figures and documentation so that we can assess the direction of our fiscal policies,” Musa stated.
The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework serves as a blueprint for the nation’s fiscal policy over a three-year period and forms the foundation for the annual budget.
The Senate’s resolution signals heightened legislative scrutiny of budget performance and could set the tone for a more data-driven 2025 appropriation process.
Source: Channel TV
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