Defend your budget proposals in 1 week or risk zero allocation, Lawan tells MDAs

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has given a one-week ultimatum to Ministries, Departments and Agencies yet to defend their budget proposals for 2022 to do so or risk zero allocation. 

 He gave the warning in a remark before the upper chamber adjourned plenary on Tuesday. 

• Buhari appoints Prof Omotayo as NIPSS DG
• Residents decry rot in FCT as Reps summon minister

 He said the one-week extension would allow relevant committees to conclude work on the budget estimates of MDAs for presentation to the Committee on Appropriations. 

 He said: “A one week deadline is hereby given for all MDAs to defend their budget.

 “[And] if there are any MDAs not able to do so, they should forget about it because from this week, our committees would start defending or presenting their budget defence results with the Committee on Appropriations.  

 “So, we give more time to our committees so that they’re able to engage with the MDAs.

 “When we close at 1pm today, we expect that the committees will go and continue with those issues that have not been sorted out.

“This week, we’ll close at 1pm, and Thursday would be for our Committees to work throughout till Friday and possibly Saturday, so that by next week, by the Grace of God, the budget defense would be closed, because that would be the only window.”