The Joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriations, led by Co-Chairman Senator Solomon Olamilekan, has issued a strict 48-hour deadline to all sub-committees for the submission of their reports on the 2024 budget.
The aim is to facilitate the timely passage of the N27.5 trillion budget by the end of the month. Senator Olamilekan emphasized the importance of adhering to the Wednesday deadline, warning that failure to submit reports would grant the committee authority to independently handle the budget of non-compliant agencies or committees.
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In a session where some sub-committees presented their reports, attention was drawn to two key issues. Firstly, concerns were raised about the fate of 136 Nigerians held in Ethiopian prisons. Secondly, the allocation of N5 billion in the budget to rejuvenate the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Cross River State garnered interest.
Notably, among the submitted reports, it was revealed that some of the Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons expressed a desire to serve their sentences in Nigeria. However, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) handling the matter cited financial constraints.
Senator Olamilekan assured that the committee on appropriations would review the reports, particularly addressing the challenges faced by NIDCOM, and pledged to explore avenues to enhance their budget, acknowledging the vital work undertaken by the commission.
