Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that the National Assembly would support the present reform being made by the Federal Government as it would be in the interest of Nigerians.
Speaking before the 2025 budget presentation to the House of Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, Akpabio noted, “We will not kill any reform in our interest. We cannot do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.
“We increased the 2025 budget by 50 per cent and extended 2024 to June 2025, which will be brought before you soon.”
Akpabio said he asked Tinubu to caution his minister to honour every invitation extended to them and that the National Assembly would exercise its power over anyone who chose to ignore their invitation.
He revealed that the National Assembly decided to extend the 2024 budget to June 2025.
“We increased the 2025 budget by 50 per cent. We have extended the 2024 to June 2025 and it will be brought before you soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was observed that as Tinubu was to begin his budget speech at 12:41 pm, there was a heavy security presence around the National Assembly complex. Tinubu was at the National Assembly to present the 2025 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.
At 8:00 am senators and members of the House of Representatives were seen arriving at the green chamber where the joint session will take place.
Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved N47.96 trillion estimated expenditure for the 2025 fiscal year. Apart from beefing up security with reinforcements from security agencies, all business operators and ancillary service providers like banks and food vendors have been shut down for business today by the National Assembly management.