The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has said the recent decision by the House to repeal and re-enact the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts was driven by the need to align Nigeria’s budgeting framework with global best practices, enhance transparency, and ease implementation challenges.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Agbese said lawmakers took the step to strengthen accountability at all levels of government while reducing the oversight burden that often accompanies budget execution.
According to him, the repeal and re-enactment will help streamline the country’s fiscal process by ensuring a more coherent and predictable funding structure.
“Basically, it is to align the nation’s budgeting system with global and international best practices. It is also to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels and to lessen the burden of oversight during implementation,” Agbese said.
He noted that the decision would also pave the way for a single national budget cycle after March 31, 2026, describing the move as critical to seamless budget execution by the Executive arm of government.
Agbese commended the House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Hon. Abubakar Bichi, for its diligence and prompt handling of the re-enactment bill transmitted to the House by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the committee’s efficiency made it possible for the bill to be considered and passed before lawmakers proceeded on their Christmas and New Year holidays.
According to him, the committee’s work has also helped address the challenge of running multiple budgets in the country.
He warned that operating multiple budgets could lead to fiscal confusion and the dissipation of government funds across numerous projects, resulting in poor outcomes.
The lawmaker observed that the abysmally low performance of the 2025 capital budget was partly due to the existence of multiple budgets.
“By adopting a single budget after March 31, 2026, the Executive will be able to implement the budget without much hassle. When there is a single funding system, it becomes easier to manage cash flow and ensure timely releases,” he added.
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