By Abdullateef Salau & Balarabe Alkassim
The National Assembly is exploring options as concerns grow over where to host President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2023 budget presentation amid the ongoing renovation of the Senate and House of Representatives chambers.
The parliament is expecting President Buhari to present next year’s fiscal estimates in the first week of October.
- How my successor, other leaders will emerge in 2023 — Buhari
- Insecurity’ll soon be a thing of the past – Buhari
But the physical presentation of the proposed N19.76 trillion budget by Buhari to the joint session of the National Assembly is not certain due to the ongoing remodelling of the chambers, which has caused the relocation of the federal lawmakers to makeshift chambers for plenary.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan had said though the National Assembly was expecting the president for presentation of the 2023 budget estimates, the ongoing renovation work is creating challenge of where to host him.
Lawan, while addressing reporters after inspecting the renovation work at the temporary venue for the sitting of the Senate, however, said the issue would be addressed before month’s end.
Budget presentation usually takes place in the House of Representatives chamber, which accommodates 360 lawmakers.
The House’s improvised chamber in Room 0.28 of the New Building only has capacity of 118 seats. It is expanded by an upper deck provision in Room 231 with a capacity of 236 seats. The rooms are connected audio-visually with large screens.
The Clerk, House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, had prior to the resumption, disclosed that there are no designated seats apart from the allocation for presiding and principal officers. “Therefore, all other sitting arrangements are based on arrivals.”
Speaking to one of our correspondents on the phone, Danzaria said the National Assembly is working towards an arrangement for President Buhari’s 2023 budget presentation.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
