The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations has summoned top federal economic officials over the pace of implementation of the 2024–2025 Appropriation Act, amid rising public concern about slow budget delivery.
After a closed-door session held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Bichi (APC–Kano), briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
Bichi said the engagement was part of the National Assembly’s oversight role and was driven by the need to ensure that the budget translates into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
“We invited the ministers to discuss budget performance. Nigerians are concerned, and rightly so. We made it clear that the pace of implementation needs to improve,” Bichi stated.
“The ministers acknowledged this and gave assurances that, before the end of the year, Nigerians will begin to see meaningful changes. We intend to follow up closely.”
Finance Minister: 2024 Budget Already 80% Implemented
In his remarks, Finance Minister Wale Edun revealed that approximately 80 per cent of the 2024 budget had already been implemented as of September 2025. He clarified that the budget remains active following the National Assembly’s decision to extend its lifespan until December.
“The 2024 budget is still running. With the extension, implementation has continued, and we are currently at about 80% overall execution,” Edun told reporters.
He added that discussions also covered the 2025 budget, with a renewed focus on grassroots-oriented projects such as irrigation systems, rural roads, and infrastructure aimed at directly improving livelihoods across local communities.
“We are concentrating efforts on projects that touch the grassroots irrigation, access roads, and essential infrastructure so Nigerians can feel the impact of government spending where it matters most,” he said.
Edun also addressed speculation about extra spending, clarifying that no supplementary budget for 2025 was under consideration at this time.
On his part, Budget and National Planning Minister, Atiku Bagudu, commended the cordial working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, noting that such collaboration has been instrumental to the progress made so far under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He pointed out that the lawmakers acknowledged the administration’s reform efforts, particularly in the area of tax restructuring and economic policy shifts.
“The National Assembly has been a strong partner in advancing reform most recently with the tax reforms which are already producing results,” Bagudu said.
He also noted that the interaction with the Committee helped identify areas where improvement is still needed, further strengthening the government’s resolve to deliver on its promises.
Background & Context
The 2024 Appropriation Act was signed into law as part of the federal government’s strategy to boost infrastructure, support economic reforms, and improve service delivery. However, public frustration has grown over what many see as slow or uneven rollout of budgeted projects, especially at the grassroots level.
With 2025 budget discussions already underway, the latest engagement between lawmakers and key ministers signals an increased push for transparency, accountability, and performance monitoring across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
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