Reps Commence 2024 Budget Defense Today
The House of Representatives Committee on Finance chaired by Hon. Abiodun James Faleke will on Monday flag off the 2024 budget defence of key regulatory ministries and agencies responsible for revenue generation in the country.
Those expected to appear before the committee on Monday are: Minister of Budget and National Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu; Accountant General of Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein and Chairman, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC), Mohammed Bello Shehu.
Others scheduled to appear on Tuesday, are Minister of Finance, Yemi Cardoso; heads of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani has underscored the need for the National Assembly to ensure adequate allocation of funds into critical sectors of the economy as well as infrastructural projects that could revamp the economy and alleviate the sufferings of millions of Nigerians across the country.
For example the 15 billion Naira that was approved for the construction of the Vice Presidents residence.
This I believe is a total disregard for the interests of the citizens at this very critical moment, it is also very insensitive for this kind of monies to be approved at a time when we have a great infrastructural deficit in the country, we have so many areas of development that requires attention, areas in which great dividends will come out if we can invest in them.
Rafisanjani urge that NASS should prioritise not only in the 2024 budget but also in subsequent budgets.
The President categorically cautioned the lawmakers to prioritize projects that will be of the maximum benefit to the citizens, but the question remains that whether the President and the lawmakers are not just making a show just to appear people oriented leaders because we have seen how some of the projects approved in the budget significantly deviate from people centred interested especially looking at the current economic situation that many Nigerians are facing.
