A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has called on the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF), the National Assembly, and the Executive to engage in dialogue with Nigerians to clarify the legal standards in the country’s budgetary process.
The coalition’s position followed the federal government’s response to the decision to repeal and re-enact the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts, as well as the Budget Office’s public explanation of the process.
The coalition, in a joint statement sent to NEWSNGR and signed by Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), PLSI, BudgIT, and PRIMORG, welcomed the Budget Office’s engagement with civil society.
The groups described it as a positive step toward constructive public dialogue on fiscal governance and constitutional accountability.
“We respectfully call on the Budget Office of the Federation, the National Assembly, and the Executive to continue this dialogue with civil society and citizens, with a view to clarifying legal standards, improving transparency, and reinforcing constitutional compliance in Nigeria’s budgetary process,” the statement said.
The organisations stated that prior legislative authorisation remains a cornerstone of constitutional governance.
The CSOs warned that expenditures incurred beyond approved limits, before further legislative approval, raise serious constitutional concerns.
On the repeal and re-enactment of appropriation laws, the CSOs noted that although the Constitution does not expressly prohibit such actions, budget laws are unique in nature due to their annual lifespan and macroeconomic implications.
According to them, repealing and re-enacting appropriation acts well after the relevant fiscal year, particularly when they were linked to already incurred expenditure, raises legitimate public interest and accountability concerns.
The organisations also cautioned against frequent or ad-hoc extensions of budget lifespans, especially when done through resolutions rather than formal amendment acts.
The CSOs argued that such practices could introduce uncertainty into fiscal management and weaken institutional credibility.
The groups urged the Budget Office to ensure the timely publication of budget proposals, repeal and re-enactment bills, and enacted appropriation acts.
The CSOs noted that transparency is a constitutional value essential to public trust.
Leave a Comment