Committee Chairmen were urged to finalize and submit budget defense reports by December 19.

This follows the Joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriations giving a 48-hour deadline for sub-committees to submit their reports on the 2024 budget.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had last month, presented to the joint session of the National Assembly N27.503trillion as total projected expenditure for the 2024 fiscal year, out of which N18.324trillion is set as targeted revenue while N9.18trillion is deficit to be financed by internal and external borrowings as well as proceeds from privatisation.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola emphasized the importance of meeting the deadline to achieve this cycle and by so doing, ensure that the National Assembly would meet the January-December budget cycle, said, “I am appealing to all my colleagues; I am ready, and the deadline is Wednesday this week to receive all reports, all standing committees of the senate.

“By Wednesday, any agency or any committee that has not submitted their report before the committee, it is assumed that you are giving us the omnibus power to go ahead and treat your budget independently of that committee.

“So, we are appealing to all chairmen of various committees to please submit their reports on or before Wednesday this week.”