Poor Budget Execution Could Constitute Impeachable Offence — Reps Member

A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, has warned that the persistent failure to implement the nation’s budget as approved by the National Assembly could amount to an impeachable offence under the Constitution.

Monguno stated this on Monday during a session with the Senate Committee on Finance. This occurred while the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, was addressing the lawmakers’ inquiries about the nation’s economic condition.

He said, “Where are these revenues going to if the 2025 budget has not been implemented, and we have to roll over 70% of 2025 to 2026 with the promise that 30% will be implemented before March? Up to March, even 30% was not implemented.

“The National Assembly has to extend the lifespan of the budget up to September to allow government to implement just 30% component of 2025 budget.

“The issue of 2026 had not even arisen at all. So, don’t you think this is contradictory? Or where are these revenues going, to the extent that the budget is not being implemented?

“If the budget is not being implemented, what is the function of government? For example, security of lives and property of the people is the primacy of governance.

“All the security agencies that we have been interacting with, are reporting to us that they have received zero allocation in terms of their capital. Where are these monies going to?

“This is my question. Why is budget not implemented? Because it is a breach of the law, and it’s an impeachable offense.”

He expressed concern over what he described as the executive’s recurring poor budget performance, saying the trend weakens governance, frustrates national development and deprives Nigerians of the benefits of projects and programmes captured in the budget.

The lawmaker maintained that failure to faithfully execute an approved budget undermines the authority of the legislature and violates the constitutional principles guiding public finance and accountability.

Monguno called for stricter legislative oversight of ministries, departments and agencies to ensure compliance with budgetary provisions, insisting that those responsible for poor implementation must be held accountable.

He stressed that effective budget execution remains critical to delivering infrastructure, improving public services and sustaining public confidence in government, urging all relevant authorities to uphold the sanctity of the Appropriation Act.