The Nigerian National Assembly is poised to pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill today, Saturday, December 30. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives will convene their respective sittings to approve the harmonized 2024 budget prepared by the National Assembly.

According to a statement released by the Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, the Senate’s plenary session will commence at 1 pm. Similarly, the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, confirmed that the House will also hold its session at 1 pm on the same day.

The Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, emphasized the need for federal lawmakers to curtail their holidays to facilitate the swift passage of the 2024 appropriations bill. He assured the public that the budget would be passed on December 30, underscoring the efforts made to expedite the budget defense process, including the joint appearance of all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies before both chambers.

Bamidele revealed the extraordinary measures taken by the National Assembly, such as convening on Saturdays and potentially even on Sunday, to meet the deadline. He expressed the Assembly’s determination to have the 2024 appropriation bill ready for presidential assent by January 1, 2024, enabling prompt implementation.