Deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Phillip Agbese, said the lawmakers have thoroughly reviewed the N49.70 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024.
Agbese, who who disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Abuja, vowed that the lawmakers will not approve frivolous brdgetary demands, assuring that Nigerians would get full value for their money.
The Benue lawmaker assured that the House will not compromise its integrity in the consideration and passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
According to him, the House of Representatives is committed to ensuring that the budget is in the best interest of Nigerians.
Agbese, in the same vein, commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbass, for his exemplary leadership and commitment to transparency and accountability.
Under Abbass’ leadership, Agbese noted that the House has restored the confidence of Nigerians in the budgetary process and other legislative activities.
According to him, Abbass’ leadership has brought a new dawn to the House, where the interests of Nigerians are prioritised above personal interests.
He specifically noted that the Speaker’s choice of standing committee leadership has also been a huge difference, particularly the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Kabir Bichi.
Agbese observed that Bichi has demonstrated commitment to ensuring that the budget is thoroughly scrutinised, working tirelessly to ensure that the budget is thoroughly scrutinised and that the interests of Nigerians are protected.
The deputy Reps spokesman said, “The 10th House of Representatives is blessed with seasoned parliamentarians who have brought their wealth of experience to bear on legislative activities. This has resulted in the speedy passage of bills, seamless conduct of oversight functions, and high attendance at plenary sessions.
“The commitment of members to their legislative duties is commendable, and their dedication to serving the interests of Nigerians is evident in their actions. The House is indeed blessed to have such experienced and dedicated members.
“You are aware that we commenced the defence of the 2025 budget estimates earlier this month and so far, we have done a good job. As we promised, we did our best to ask the relevant questions and where we were not satisfied, we demanded explanations.
“Some of the MDAs made beautiful presentations, others did not. The media witnessed some if not all these issues during our budget defence sessions. What was not done in the media spotlight is that we carried out a surgical operation on these proposals in such a way that Nigerians will get value for their money.
“As a parliament, we are aware of the difficulties of the times and there is no way we would approve frivolous budgetary demands. We made this clear to the ministers and heads of agencies that they must look for innovative ways to generate revenue to enable the government to run effectively.
“We also made it clear that we will not approve frivolous demands as proposed to us. They left with this message, aware that with the 10th Assembly, it is never business as usual anymore.
“We urge all Nigerians to remain confident in our commitment to transparency and accountability. We assure you that the 2025 budget will be a reflection of our collective aspirations and priorities. As we move forward, we call on all citizens to support us in this endeavour.
“Together, we can build a brighter future for our great nation. We are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way and look forward to your continued support and engagement.”