The House of Representatives has called for the automation of the nation’s budget in order to improve the process. They made the call at the resumed plenary of lawmakers on Tuesday at the lower chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, after about eight weeks of recess.
This followed a motion by a member of the House from Bauchi State, Mr Mansur Soro, who noted that the annual budget plays a crucial role in economic management and development policies of any nation. He decried the situation where Nigeria’s budget process perennially experiences delays despite the efforts of all relevant entities involved in the budgeting process.
The lawmaker added that budget delay impacts negatively on economic growth, as a 2018 study shows that one hundred days delay in its implementation tends to depress the economy by at least two-point-five per cent.
Soro added that the prolonged budget process has led to poor budget implementation, poor service delivery in the public service, induced diversion of public funds and resources, as well as corruption which has become the scourge of society.
Following the motion, the lower chamber mandated the House Committees on Finance,Appropriations, and Justice, to convene a legislative summit with relevant stakeholders to improve the budget process.
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