It was a momentous occasion as President Bola Tinubu presented the 2024 budget estimates to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
This is especially against the backdrop that it was his first budget and a former member of the National Assembly was returning as Commander in Chief.
The President, dressed in all white arrived the temporary chamber of the House of Representatives, at about 11:09 am , which served as the venue of the presentation to cheers from the lawmakers. He was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu among others.
The procedure to present the budget resumed promptly as the House was already sitting in plenary for the day presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Despite the solemnity of the exercise it was a convivial atmosphere as the leadership of the National Assembly, represented by Senate President Goodwill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, romanticised the emergence of Tinubu as President and Kashim Shettima as Vice President, having both served as members of the National Assembly, for the first time ever.
This they believed would facilitate a more cordial relationship between both arms of government, the legislature and the executive, to enhance the lives of Nigerians.
Accompanying the President was his Chief of Staff, also a former lawmaker, who served as Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also attendance at the epochal event were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje; the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume amongst others.
The two halls that serve as temporary chamber for the lawmakers were unusually filled up as both members and Senators among others guests squeezed for space.
