OrderPaper’s Legislative Intelligence Forecast Entry (LIFE) predicts that lawmakers will focus on the 2025 budget following the president’s presentation. Reactions to Kemi Badenoch’s controversial remarks on Nigeria may also occur.
The National Assembly is set for a significant week, with several high-profile matters on the agenda. President Bola Tinubu will present the 2025 Appropriations Bill, his second budget proposal since taking office, to a joint session of the legislature. The legislative review of the fiscal proposal is expected to ensure alignment with the administration’s priorities, including security and economic growth goals.
Simultaneously, the assembly may address rising public and political concerns over Kemi Badenoch’s controversial remarks about Nigeria, particularly northern Nigerians. The comments, which have sparked outrage for alleged ethnic and religious insensitivity, might be raised through a point of order or formal motion.
Presentation of 2025 budget
President Tinubu is set to present the proposed 2025 national budget to a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on this week. This was made known by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio during last Thursday’s plenary. This will mark the second budget presentation by President Tinubu since his administration began.
Recall that the Senate had on December 3, approved the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) with a total spending of N47.9 trillion. The expenditure framework was approved with a new borrowing plan of N9.22 trillion which constitutes both domestic and foreign borrowings.
Budget review by both houses
After President Tinubu presents the 2025 budget, it is expected that both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives) will immediately begin deliberations on the proposed budget.
It will also be referred to the appropriations committees, and in turn all standing committees, for a detailed review of allocations, revenue estimates, and expenditure plans. The committees will invite Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for budget defense sessions, where they will justify their funding requests
Lawmakers may propose adjustments to allocations, identify redundancies, or challenge unrealistic revenue projections. This may include cutting unnecessary spending or reallocating funds to priority sectors such as health, education, or infrastructure, as the case may be.
READ ALSO: Implications of late submission of the 2025 budget | ANALYSIS
Kemi Badenoch’s controversial remarks
Kemi Badenoch, British conservative politician of Nigerian descent, has recently faced backlash following controversial remarks that reportedly associated northern Nigerians with “boko haram islamism.”
These comments have sparked significant outrage, particularly for perpetuating ethnic and religious stereotypes and dismissing a unified Nigerian identity. Critics argue that her words could exacerbate existing tensions between regions and ethnic groups within Nigeria.
This is not the first time Badenoch has been criticized for comments regarding her Nigerian heritage. She has often faced scrutiny over her statements on immigration and corruption, which some view as denigrating Nigeria. Recently, Vice President Kashim Shettima publicly condemned Badenoch, accusing her of disrespecting Nigeria during her interviews with British media. He went so far as to urge her to abandon her Nigerian name if she felt no connection to the country.
Following this recent statement, there have been calls for her to clarify or apologize, with some suggesting that her rhetoric alienates her from a country she partially represents through her heritage. The controversy may be formally addressed by Nigeria’s National Assembly this week. Lawmakers might raise the issue through a matter of urgent impirtance or tablr a motion to condemn her actions. Such a motion could demand a retraction of her statements and emphasize the importance of safeguarding Nigeria’s national reputation.
Bills Board:
With the presentation of the budget this week and subsequent review and defense sessions, the national assembly is likely not to consider any other activity including pending bills. However, the table below contains bills that are likely to be considered at different stages in both the senate and house this week:
| Bills | HB or SB | Consideration of Report | Committee/Reading | Sponsor/Chairman |
| A Bill for an Act to Strengthen Career and Technical Training as pathway for Nigerian students development towards high skill and growth and for other matters connected therewith, 2024 | SB.641 | Second reading | Sen. Musa Mohammed Sani | |
| A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act to Establish Federal College of Education Suleja, Niger State and for Related Matters | HB.1803 | Second reading | Hon. Adamu Tanko | |
| A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Vocational and Skills Acquisition College, Ibagwa-Aka, Enugu State to provide Research, Teaching, Instruction and Training on Vocational and Skills acquisition and for Related Matters | HB. 1493 | Second reading | Hon. Chidi Mark Obetta | |
| A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Primary Health care Development Agency Act, to improve the effectiveness of primary Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria and for Related Matters | HB.1837 | Second reading | Hon. Moshood Olarewaju Oshun | |
| A Bill for an Act to Federal Medical Centres Act, 2022 to Establish Federal Medical Centre, Uluoke Uzairue, Edo State and for Related Matters | HB.633 | Second reading | Hon. Anamero Dekeri | |
| A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal Institute of Technology, Ikpoba–Okha, Edo State charged with the Responsibility, amongst other things, for the Conduct of Research into any branch of Technological and Management Sciences Courses and for Related Matters | HB. 636 | Second reading | Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi | |
| A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act, Cap. F8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024 to provide for Establishment of Federal college of Education, Oproroma, Bayelsa State | HB.1103 | Second reading | Hon. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei | |
| A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Technical and Vocational Training Centre, Aba to Promote Training, Certification and Registration of Trained Artisans to Ensure Effective Provision of Technical Services in the Execution of Both Public and Private Capital Projects in Nigeria and for Related Matters | HB.1328 | Second reading | Hon. Alexander Mascot Ikwechegh and seven others | |
| Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Bill, 2024 | SB.393 | Consideration of report | Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions | Sen. Abiru, Mukhail Adetokunbo |
| Petition from Mr. Uwalaka Peter Ebere against the office of the Auditor General for the Federation for alleged impropriety and oppressive action | Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions | Sen. Imasuen Neda Bernards |
EDITOR’S NOTE:
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