Lawan Gives Mdas 3 Weeks To Defend 2021 Budget Estimates

The Nigerian Senate has given all ministries, departments, and agencies of government a 3-week window to defend their 2021 budget estimates before its relevant committees.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, stated this as the upper legislative chamber passed the 2021 Appropriation Bill for a second reading on Thursday.

After three days of intense debate on the general principles of the N13.08 trillion Appropriation Bill, the lawmakers passed the bill for second reading.

Lawan said MDAs that fail to defend their budget estimates before the first week of November risk zero funding in the 2021 Appropriation Bill. He further asked revenue generating agencies to double their efforts in the area of remittances, stressing that the committees need to keep a close eye on them to ensure that adequate revenue is generated.

The Senate is expected to adjourn plenary next week Tuesday for about 4 weeks to allow relevant committees of the conclude the budget defence process.