The arm of government responsible for budget approval and oversight is the

1. Analyze the question The question asks which arm of government approves the budget and oversees how it is spent. Government has three arms, each with a distinct role.

2. Explain the concept Nigeria practises the separation of powers, with these arms:

• Legislature makes laws, approves the budget, and oversees the other arms. In Nigeria this is the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives).
• Executive implements laws and prepares and presents the budget proposal. The President does this.
• Judiciary interprets laws and settles disputes through the courts.

3. Step-by-step solution

• Judiciary (A): It interprets laws and does not approve budgets, so it is wrong.
• Executive (B): It prepares and presents the budget, but it does not approve it. It is also the body being checked, so it is wrong.
• Administrative (C): This is not one of the three arms of government. It refers to the civil service or bureaucracy, so it is wrong.
• Legislative (D): The President lays the Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly. The legislature debates, amends and passes it. Its committees then conduct oversight by checking that ministries, departments and agencies spend funds as approved. This fits the question exactly.

4. Answer The correct option is D. legislative.

5. Exam tip Remember: Executive proposes, Legislature approves. Whenever you see "approval," "oversight," "checks on the executive," or "appropriation" in a question, think legislature.