National Assembly resumes today, urges Tinubu to submit 2025 budget

As the National Assembly reconvenes today, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced that both chambers are expecting the presentation of the 2025 budget, along with the new Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement he personally signed, Bamidele emphasized the critical importance of the MTEF, stating, “The consideration of the MTEF holds a prime position on our legislative agenda, as it must be finalized before the 2025 Appropriation Bill can be introduced to the National Assembly.”

The MTEF serves as a legal framework providing the budget template and is typically submitted to Parliament prior to the President’s budget presentation.

After their annual recess starting July 17, the Senate and House of Representatives are set to resume plenary activities today.

Bamidele also highlighted ongoing efforts to review the 1999 Constitution, initiated with the inauguration of a dedicated committee. This committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, will conduct retreats, strategy sessions, and zonal meetings to gather input on proposed amendments to the Constitution.

“This exercise promises a genuinely federative approach that will redefine and reinvent public governance in this country,” he added.

Additionally, Bamidele announced plans to inaugurate a joint committee to investigate allegations of oil theft, addressing a critical issue that has previously been handled by separate ad hoc committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

“As we return to parliamentary sessions this week, the National Assembly will unequivocally revisit its decision to address challenges in the petroleum industry,” Bamidele stated. “The industry is underperforming, which may be linked to crude oil theft, endless turnaround maintenance of public refineries, the importation of substandard petroleum products, and fuel supply disruptions.”

He clarified that, contrary to some media reports, the Senate did not suspend its Ad Hoc Committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry, but merely postponed its public hearings to address procedural issues.

Bamidele assured that both chambers of the National Assembly would resolve these matters and possibly establish a joint committee to continue the investigation from where the ad hoc committee left off. “We are committed to uncovering the roots of economic sabotage in the petroleum industry in the national interest and developing institutional mechanisms to enhance the industry’s efficiency and functionality,” he stated.

This commitment was echoed by House spokesman Akin Rotimi in a separate statement on Monday, where he listed key issues for consideration as the House resumes, including the 2025 Appropriation Bill, the constitution review process, and electoral reforms.

Rotimi emphasized the urgency of receiving the 2025 Appropriation Bill from the executive to ensure thorough scrutiny and public engagement through town hall meetings, a practice pioneered by the House during the 2024 budget review. “The House is dedicated to maintaining the January-December budget cycle and expects cooperation from the executive,” he affirmed.

Honourable members will actively debate and pursue legislative action on pressing challenges faced by Nigerians, especially those related to recent flooding in Maiduguri, rising insecurity, and economic issues. “These urgent national matters will take precedence as we respond to our constituencies’ needs,” he added.

Rotimi, who represents Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency in Ekiti State, also noted that proposed laws aligned with the legislative agenda would be prioritized, as they are crucial to Nigerians’ quest for good governance. “Bills and motions consistent with our commitments will receive expedited consideration, serving as benchmarks by which Nigerians will evaluate the 10th Assembly at the upcoming mid-term in June 2025,” he stated.

The statement also underscored the significance of amending the 1999 Constitution, describing the constitutional review process as fundamental to democracy and reflective of the collective aspirations for a just society. The House reaffirmed its December 2025 deadline to achieve definitive outcomes for the Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The House Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, will intensify efforts to address pressing issues and align laws with public needs. “We have received approximately 305 memoranda from the public and around 150 constitution alteration bills from honourable members, reflecting significant public engagement. These bills will be prioritized for consideration,” he added.