NASS Promises to Pass 2020 Budget By December

• NASS to address the problems of our significant infrastructure deficits by funding critical infrastructure projects. 
• National security and policing framework would be revamped through the implementation of a community policing strategy

The National Assembly has expressed readiness to receive the 2020 Appropriation Bill for consideration and passage.

This was declared by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at a stakeholders’ roundtable on the 2020 budget in Abuja on Tuesday.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, the Speaker said the 9th National Assembly is ready to receive the budget on or before the September 30, and to conclude legislative action on the budget before December 31, 2019, so that Nigeria can return to January-December cycle.

READ: Why the Nigerian Senate postponed the passage of 2019 budget to April 30th

He further stated that the House was committed to reforming the key financial and industrial sectors to ensure that the government lived up to its responsibilities.

According to him, part of the reforms was to remove regulatory and policy problems for businesses to thrive and for the economy to attract more investors.

Speaking further, he said the House is determined to address the problems of our significant infrastructure deficits by funding critical infrastructure projects across the country and by working with the private sector to devise and implement effective strategies to encourage private sector investment in public works projects.

He also stated that the national security and policing framework would be revamped through the implementation of a community policing strategy that brings the citizens and communities into an enduring partnership with the security agencies to jointly ensure that the society is rid of the criminal elements “who offer nothing of value and destroy everything we hope now and in the future to build.”

“The power of the purse, the right and responsibility to manage government expenditure through the appropriation process is the central power of the legislature. It is this power that makes all else possible,” he added.

While expressing confidence that the dialogue session would create ideas and strategies to help deliver a budget process that would be in the interest of Nigerians, the Speaker assured Nigerians of his personal commitment to “these efforts, and my determination to see this process through to success.”

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Others present at the occasion include the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler; President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba; President, Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olayele; Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam; Director-General, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; and Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Garba Abari.