The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has explained the reasons why the National Assembly failed to pass the 2023 Appropriation Bill as earlier scheduled.
Lawal cited the long cleaning process the draft budget proposal underwent, among others, noting, “Committees on Appropriation from both chambers couldn’t meet up with the submission of the report for consideration and passage on Thursday.
Although, indications of this emerged when the budget report was not listed on the Order Paper for Thursday’s legislative activities.
Shortly after a closed-door session that lasted 15 minutes, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, due to irreconcilable figures detected by Appropriation committees of both Chambers, the National Assembly will not be able to deliberate on the 2023 budget.
Lawan, however, blamed the executive arm of government for submitting the budget proposal very late and when it was laid, it came with errors.
He also said that the process of cleaning the errors contained in the Appropriation bill was concluded on Wednesday, “adding that the two chambers have to harmonise the copy to be able to present the report for passage by both chambers.”
Lawan also assured that the implementation of the proposed budget will still commence on January 1, 2023.