Reps meet Edun,Bagudu on 2024-25 budget implementation

The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation on Wednesday met with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and his Budget and National Planning counterpart, Atiku Bagudu, over the implementation 2024–2025 budget.

The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Bichi, who addressed journalists at the end of the closed-door meeting in Abuja, said Nigerians were deeply concerned about the budget execution.

He added that the engagement was in line with the National Assembly’s constitutional mandate to monitor budget performance and ensure effective service delivery to Nigerians.

Bichi said: “We have engaged with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget; both of them acknowledged the concerns and agreed to work harder so that Nigerians can begin to see visible results from the budget.

“Basically, members are concerned seriously about that, and the Minister of Budget and the Minister of Finance also confirmed to us that Nigerians will see a lot of changes and developments for this budget.

“Before we stretch to 2026, you will see serious changes between now to the end of the year. They have made their promises to us, so let us see how far we can go.”

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In his remark, Edun said the meeting was a review of the 2024 budget performance.

He added that about 80 percent of the 2024 budget had been implemented as of this month.

“Basically, overall it is around 80 percent implemented; as you know, the budget for 2024 was extended by the National Assembly till December, so it is still running. So it is still a work in progress.

“We looked at the 2025 budget and we ensured that projects that touch the grassroots, provide support, resources, and facilities such as roads, irrigation, and other infrastructure projects are given adequate attention and priority,” the minister stated.

On his part, Bagudu said members of the committee appreciated the President Bola Tinubu administration’s achievements.

He claimed that the lawmakers commended the Executive’s respect for the National Assembly and the excellent working relationship between the Federal Government and the Legislature.