The National Assembly will pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill on December 30 to sustain the January-December budget cycle.
According to The PUNCH, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, revealed this at a session with journalists in Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Monday.
He 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 gave 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 on his desk for assent so that its implementation can takeoff in earnest.”
