The National Assembly, after a long recess, resumes plenary today. The lawmakers suspended plenary till January 16, 2019, having adjourned on the day after receiving the N8.8 Trillion 2019 Budget from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Today’s plenary is devoted to the formal presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill to both chambers of the National Assembly by Senator Danjuma Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe South and Hon. Mustapha Bala, who represents Kano North; Chairmen of Senate and House Committee on Appropriations, respectively.

It was learnt that once the Appropriation Bill is presented before the lawmakers, it would be referred to the relevant committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives to work on.

However, the Bill would pass the first reading today before being committed to second reading that would take the form of committee work during which time ministers and heads of parastatals would be expected to appear before the relevant committees to defend the budgetary allocations to their ministries and agencies.

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, assured that the National Assembly would prioritise the consideration of the 2019 Budget and the passage of the Minimum Wage Bill upon resumption.

“We should be able to work hard to pass those bills that are fundamental and central to revamping the economy,” he said.