ABUJA/Nigeria: The National Assembly has reiterated its commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency in the management of public funds following a budget defence session involving the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Communications and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The development was disclosed in a statement by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, who participated in the session alongside other lawmakers during the review of the Commission’s budget proposals.
According to the senator, the budget defence forms a crucial component of the legislature’s constitutional oversight responsibility, providing lawmakers with the opportunity to scrutinize the financial proposals of government agencies, seek necessary clarifications and ensure accountability in the use of public resources.
“The budget defence sessions remain an important part of the legislature’s oversight responsibility, examining proposals, seeking clarity where necessary, and ensuring that public institutions remain accountable in the use of national resources,” Nwoko stated.
During the session, the Joint Committee examined the NCC’s projected expenditures, regulatory priorities and proposed capital projects for the fiscal period.
Discussions during the defence focused on key areas including broadband expansion across the country, spectrum management, revenue performance of the Commission and the alignment of its programmes with Nigeria’s broader digital economy agenda.
Senator Nwoko noted that the telecommunications sector remains a critical driver of national development, emphasizing that effective regulation and prudent financial management are essential to sustaining growth in the industry.
He further stressed that responsible oversight by the National Assembly is necessary to ensure that regulatory institutions continue to protect consumers while also promoting investment and infrastructure expansion in the sector.
The lawmaker added that such oversight engagements go beyond routine procedures, explaining that they are designed to strengthen institutional performance and ensure that budgetary allocations translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
The review process is expected to continue as the National Assembly concludes deliberations on the NCC’s budget proposals ahead of their incorporation into the broader national appropriation framework.
