January 21, 2026 — The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has issued a formal statement confirming the constitutional integrity of the repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 and 2025 budgets. This clarification comes amidst public debate regarding the legislature’s authority to “restart” a budget mid-year. The Ministry confirmed that this action is a supreme exercise of the “Power of the Purse” vested in the National Assembly under Sections 4, 80, and 81 of the 1999 Constitution.
The decision to repeal rather than amend was driven by a need to provide a “clean” legal instrument that can withstand judicial scrutiny. In the past, complex amendments led to litigation over which version of a law was current. By re-enacting the 2024 and 2025 budgets, the 10th National Assembly has exercised its right to ensure that the laws of the land are clear and unambiguous.
Furthermore, the re-enactment process involved a renewed “Public Hearing” phase, where Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and professional bodies like ICAN and ANAN provided input on the revised figures. This inclusivity has strengthened the social contract, ensuring that the N48.31 trillion 2025 budget reflects the priorities of the Nigerian people, such as food security and national safety.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Appropriations highlighted that this process also allowed for the “cleaning” of the budget of any “padding” or redundant line items that had become obsolete due to the merger of certain government agencies. This serves as a vital record for the National Library, documenting how the Nigerian legislature evolved to handle complex economic crises through sophisticated law-making techniques.
