President of the Ninth Assembly, Ahmed Lawan has disclosed that the National Assembly will henceforth ensure to pass the nation's appropriation bill within three months of its submission by the executive. Lawan made the disclosure while speaking to State House Correspondents,
after performing the Juma'at Prayers alongside President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Mosque in Abuja.
While speaking, the Senate President noted that the process of passing a nation's budget is the responsibility of both the executive and legislative arms of government. He urged both the NASS and the executive to create a special timeframe dedicated to the budget defence so as to hasten the passage of the bill.
"It is our desire in the National Assembly that every minister, every chief executive officer of every agency comes to the National Assembly and defence the budget of his agency or her agency before going out of the country.
"That window is going to be available within the one month but that is the only window that is going to be available, Lawan said.
He said after the budget has been passed, all ministers and Heads of MDAs who were unable to defend their budget would be invited to do so.
The lawmaker also assured that the NASS are eager to perform their duties and support the President in a bid to boost the economy as well as develop the country.
