Why We Repealed and Re-enacted the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts — Agbese

The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has explained that the repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts were undertaken to reposition Nigeria’s budgeting system in line with global best practices, improve transparency, and address implementation challenges.
Agbese, who spoke during an interview on Friday, said the decision was aimed at strengthening accountability across all tiers of government while reducing the heavy oversight demands that often accompany budget execution.
According to him, the move will help to streamline the nation’s fiscal process by creating a more coherent and predictable funding structure.
“Essentially, the goal is to align Nigeria’s budgeting system with global and international best practices. It is also to promote transparency and accountability at all levels, while easing the burden of oversight during implementation,” he said.
The lawmaker noted that the repeal and re-enactment would also facilitate the introduction of a single national budget cycle after March 31, 2026, a development he described as vital for smooth and effective execution by the Executive arm of government.
Agbese commended the House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Hon. Abubakar Bichi, for its diligence and prompt handling of the re-enactment bill transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the committee’s swift action made it possible for the House to consider and pass the bill before lawmakers proceeded on their Christmas and New Year recess.
According to him, the committee’s work has also contributed to resolving the persistent challenge of running multiple budgets in the country.
He warned that operating multiple budgets often leads to fiscal confusion and the dissipation of government resources across several projects, ultimately resulting in poor outcomes.
Agbese observed that the very low performance of the 2025 capital budget was largely attributable to the practice of running multiple budgets.
“With the adoption of a single budget after March 31, 2026, the Executive will be able to implement the budget with fewer challenges. A single funding system makes cash flow management easier and ensures timely releases,” he added.
The lawmaker also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing leadership that supports fiscal reforms, describing the President’s commitment to budget discipline and economic stability as encouraging.
His commendation followed President Tinubu’s recent assurance that the era of multiple budgets would end by March 31, 2026.
While presenting the 2026 budget, President Tinubu announced that Nigeria would transition to a single budget system from April 2026, anchored on a unified revenue cycle.
According to the President, the reform is designed to tackle long-standing issues such as abandoned projects, unpaid contractual obligations, and overlapping budgets inherited across successive administrations.
“This is a serious and difficult challenge. Avoiding abandoned projects, unpaid contractual obligations and the practice of running multiple budgets—both inherited and within active mandates—has become a major national problem.
“We are therefore ending the habit of running budgets on fragmented inflows. By March 31, 2026, all outstanding capital liabilities from previous years will be fully funded and closed. There will be no overlaps, no excuses and no rollover culture,” the President said.
Agbese described Tinubu as a listening leader, noting that his decision to end multiple budgets reflects concerns raised by lawmakers and experts who have consistently warned that the practice encourages fiscal indiscipline.
The lawmaker also passed a vote of confidence in the President’s economic team, particularly the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, commending them for developing a budget framework that reflects Nigeria’s economic realities.
“We commend the economic team, especially the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, for putting together a budget plan that reflects the country’s realities and the economic interests of all segments of society,” he said.
Agbese reaffirmed that the House of Representatives remains committed to reforms that will strengthen public finance management, improve service delivery, and restore public confidence in the budgeting process.