The National Assembly resumed plenary sessions today, Tuesday, after its annual recess, with an urgent call for President Bola Tinubu to present the 2025 budget and the new Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper.
The MTEF serves as a critical foundation for the budget process and must be submitted before the 2025 Appropriation Bill can be laid before the National Assembly.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, in a statement released earlier, emphasized the importance of the MTEF in the legislative agenda.
He noted that it is essential for the document to be reviewed and approved by both the Senate and House of Representatives before the 2025 budget is officially presented.
Bamidele said, “As we return fully to the parliamentary sessions on Tuesday this week, the National Assembly will, without ambiguity, revisit its decision to decisively address challenges in the petroleum industry.
“The industry is not optimal in its performance. This may not be unconnected to crude oil theft, endless turnaround maintenance of public refineries, importation of substandard petroleum products, and fuel supply disruption, among others.
“Contrary to some media reports, the Senate never suspended its Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, but postponed its public hearing due to the need to address issues that border on the Rules of the National Assembly.”
The National Assembly returned to work after being on recess since July 17, with both chambers set to tackle key legislative matters. Bamidele further highlighted that the review of the 1999 Constitution is also a major priority.
A special committee chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau has been set up to handle this task. The committee will hold several retreats, strategy sessions, and zonal meetings to gather public input on potential amendments.
House of Representatives spokesman Akin Rotimi echoed Bamidele’s sentiments, stressing the importance of timely submission of the 2025 Appropriation Bill. He also emphasized the need to maintain the January-December budget cycle, a timeline introduced in previous sessions.
Rotimi mentioned other urgent matters, including electoral reforms and responses to national emergencies like the recent flooding in Maiduguri and ongoing security concerns across the country.
According to Rotimi, constitutional review and legislative reforms will also be top priorities as the National Assembly works to align Nigeria’s laws with the needs of the people.
He highlighted that the House had received over 300 public memoranda and 150 constitution-related bills, indicating a high level of public engagement.
