The House of Representatives has consolidated six Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) amendment bills. It is expected that the House will reintroduce the consolidated bill for second reading soon
The House of Representatives on Thursday consolidated six Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) amendment bills.
Chairman, rules and business committee of the House, Rep. Francis Waive (APC Delta), while making a brief explanattion, said the bills are of similar subject matter enhance the need for the consolidation of the bills.
One of the bills consolidated is “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Fiscal Responsibility Act, No.31 of 2007 and to Enact the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, 2024 to Provide for Prudent Management of the Nation’s Resources; ensure long Term Macro-Economic Stability of the National Economy; Secure Greater Accountability and Transparency in Fiscal Operations within the Medium Term Fiscal Policy Framework; and the Establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to ensure the Promotion and Enforcement of the Nation’s Economic Objectives and for Related Matters (HB. 1478)” sponsored by the sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (APC Abia), and co-sponsored by the majority leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo), Rep. Mansur Manu Soro (PDP Bauchi), Rep. Lawan Ali Shetima (APC Yobe), Rep. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (PDP Imo) , Rep. Joshua Audu Gana (PDP Niger) and Rep. Akiolu M. Kayode (APC Lagos).
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OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative (OAI) alongside the following sister civil society organisations – Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), HipCity Innovation Centre, CLICE Foundation, and AdvoKC have been advocating for the FRA amendment through under the Growth Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT) project sponsored by USAID-SCALE. The advocacy is anchored on the theory of change that a significant reduction, if not the elimination of opacity, lack of transparency and accountability, and other forms of corruption through fiscal reforms and prudent use of public resources, including accountable debt management, will lead to efficient, effective, and functional service delivery at the national and sub-national levels.
Other bills on FRA consolidated on Thursday include: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and for Related Matters (HB. 71)” and “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and for Related Matters (HB. 1097)” sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP Osun), “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 to Review the operating surplus and general Reserve Fund of Statutory Corporations and Government owned body Corporates and for Related Matters (HB. 873)” and “A Bill for an Act to Provide Prudent Management of the Nation’s Resources, ensure Long Term Macro – Economic Stability of the National Economy, secure greater Accountability and Transparency in Fiscal Operations within the Medium Term Fiscal Policy Framework and Establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to ensure Promotion and Enforcement of the nation’s Economic Objectives and for Related Matters (HB. 1304)” sponsored by Rep. Marcus Onobun (PDP Edo), while “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 to Provide for Prudent Management of Nation’s Resources, increased Accountability and Transparency in Fiscal Operations of the Federal Government and for Related Matters (HB. 1150)” is sponsored by Rep. Mansur Manu Soro (PDP Bauchi and three others).
The consolidated bill will be reintroduced for second reading at a later date.
What consolidation bill means
Consolidation of bills mean the combination of multiple bills on the same topic into a single proposal without altering the contents of each. The purpose is to streamline and organise the proposals into a single one to make for easy debate.
