JUST IN: NASS Will Pass 2024 Budget By December 30, Says Speaker Abass

The House of Representatives’ Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, announced plans to pass the 2024 budget by Saturday, December 30, 2023. This declaration came as the House resumed its plenary session on Tuesday, December 19.

Speaker Abbas conveyed a message from the Committee on Appropriations to various House committees. He emphasized that these committees must conclude and submit their reports from the budget defense sessions with government agencies by 8 pm on December 19, 2023.

He further elaborated that other budget-related processes, including compilation, processing, and harmonization, would follow suit.

The 2024 Appropriation Bill was presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 29, 2023. President Tinubu introduced a proposed budget of N27.5 trillion for the fiscal year 2024.

The president themed the 2024 budget as the “Budget of Renewed Hope,” aiming to achieve economic growth, stability, improved investment environment, human capital development, poverty reduction, and enhanced social security.

A breakdown of the critical allocations in the 2024 budget revealed allocations for different sectors:

Education: N2.18 Trillion (7.9% of Budget)

– N1.23 trillion provisioned for the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)

– N251.47 billion allocated to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)

– N700.0 billion earmarked for infrastructure projects in Tertiary institutions through Transfers to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)

Health: N1.33 Trillion (5% of Budget)

– N1.07 trillion allocated for the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)

– N137.21 billion set aside for Gavi/Immunization funds, including Counterpart Funding for Donor Supported Programs

– N125.74 billion transferred to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) amounting to 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)

Defence and Security: N3.25 Trillion (12% of Budget)

– Allocation for Military, Police, Intelligence & ParaMilitary (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)

Infrastructure: N1.32 Trillion (5% of Budget)

– Includes provisions for Works & Housing, Power, Transport, Water Resources, and Aviation

Social Development & Poverty Reduction Programs: N534 Billion (2% of Budget)

– Allocation for Social Investments and Poverty Reduction Programs

The breakdown also underlined the importance of each sector’s allocations in the 2024 budget plan, aiming to enhance various facets of national development and welfare.

The budget is currently undergoing scrutiny and deliberation within the National Assembly for final approval.