N/Assembly has powers to add, reduce and review budget estimates – Court

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled that the National Assembly has the power to increase or review upward budget estimates laid before it by the executive.

This followed a suit by popular advocate, Femi Falana, in which he listed the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Assembly and the Auditor-General of the Federation as respondents.

The Plaintiff (Falana) had asked the Court to determine four questions whether by Section 81 of the Constitution, the National Assembly can increase or review upward any aspect of the estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Federation for the next financial year prepared and laid before it by the Executive and that by Section 85 of the Constitution, the National Assembly can audit public accounts of the Federation, appoint auditors for statutory bodies or conduct periodic checks of all government…