The Parliament Diary

The Ministry of Finance, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, and other agencies have called on the House of representative Commitee on finance to increase their funding in the 2025 budget.

The appeal was made when the ministry and other agencies defended their 2025 budget proposals before the National Assembly in Abuja.

Presenting the 2025 budget before the House Commitee on Finance, the Minister of state for Finance, Doris Uzoka- Anite reported a 100% performance in personnel and overhead costs for 2024, but only 22% in capital expenditure. For 2025, the ministry proposed a total budget of N13.511 trillion.

She said “In 2024, we had N2,413,790,305. Overhead we have N1,809,809,393. The total budget for 2024 for the Federal Ministry of Finance was N8,106,450,530 Naira. Our performance based on 2024, the percent 100%, the overhead 100%, and the capital 22%.

“The total budget N2,495,300,769 (personnel), N3,565,556,897 (Overhead) and N7,450,800,902 for capital for 2025. That brings the total to N13,511,607,568.

“This include the issue of exchange rate depression. We go on our mandates we attend on behalf of the country, and international organizations,

“Our Offices look good from the outside but the inside needs a lot of rehabilitation. We wish that you can improve our capital allocation as well as the overhead. And we think that with the Senate committee on finance, we can improve our capital allocation and our overhead. Five goes to overhead. So that was what the Minister of State was presenting.

“The Minister of State gave a figure of N38 billion as a total for 2025 and of on behalf of the Coordinating Minister and the Minister of State, Honorable Chair and members of this committee, I would also like to plead with you, just as we call the support of the Senate committee on finance, please, Honorable Chair, help us to improve our envelope for 2025.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission Chairman Victor Muruakor, appealed for increased funding, citing insufficient allocations for personnel and capital projects. The commission reported a 38.18% capital release for 2024 and sought improved funding for 2025.

He said “In 2025, we have a total sum of N255,753,579 as our overhead with a total of N515,152,803 as our capital costs. Bringing a total cost of N1,415,357,014bn.

“Our capital releases as of 31st December 2024 is a total sum of N246,481,918.79. This is representing 38.18% of the total appropriation for the year. The recurrent appropriation was fully released as of 31st December 2024. Our personnel costs totaling N255,753,579 was released and expended by the Commission via IPPIS representing 100% of the total appropriation of personnel for the year.

“We make case here to add that our personnel appropriation exhausted as of October. We had to ask for augmentation to enable our staff to be paid from October, November, and December. This delayed our staff payment for the period, sometimes up to three weeks.

“We also provided insufficient appropriation for personnel again in 2025. The Commission was allocated a very tight personnel appropriation, leaving no room for promotion, some allowances, The total proposed for personnel for 2025 is N361,871,239.

“Our overhead envelope is N738,291,539. And the capital is N596,930,905. Bringing in a constitute proposed appropriation for FRC in 2005 to $1,697,674.

“Our role in getting the government-owned enterprises and revenue agencies because we believe every agency is a revenue-generating agency, no matter the percentage. With the role we play, we have added impact to survive the years in independent revenue of the federal government.

“Not just because of what we can do, but because of your support. In 2022, a total of $1.3 trillion, comprising $181 billion as operating surplus and $1.1 trillion as IGR from NDAs, was tracked and facilitated with your support by the Commission. This figure was improved upon in 2023 as a total sum of $1.8 trillion was generated.

“On record, and as of September 2024, we have the record that a total of $1.1 trillion, $181 billion, had already been generated and limited to CRF in 2024. So, we are sure that with the continuous support and mental funding of our Commission, we can confidently aim to do much more to rid the CRF.

” To take a second look at the Budget and Fiscal Responsibility Commission, this is a Commission that is charged with monitoring and enforcing the Fiscal Responsibility Act, getting agencies to pay funds, and our total budget is $1.6 billion. Our staff need specialized training to be able to monitor revenues and oversee expectations in high-profile blue-chip government-funded enterprises, like NMPC, NCC, and a lot more. We have little or nothing to discharge this mandate.

Other agencies, including the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), and the Ministry of Interior, also presented their budget proposals and defended their expenditures for 2024.

The Chairman RMAFC, Muhammad Shehu, highlighted challenges, including inadequate funding, exchange rate fluctuations, and tariff shortfalls. They appealed to the National Assembly for increased allocations and support to enable them to deliver on their mandates.

He said “The total personnel cost was $2,318,200. $2,318,000,000 which was 100% done and the overhead cost of $744,000,000 which was also 100% done. The capital for 2024 was $206,000,000 which was also 100% executed.

“We had short offers because this was the coordination of those 78 women and the 25% bonus on Mr. President, which IDPS and DINAS handled successfully. On page 4 you see the breakdown.

“Clarification on December salary, our budget had a shortfall but then it was paid to the IDPS. Outside, outside. What? And then on page 4 you see the approved budget, the actual release and the actual expenditure, which is 100%.

“On 2025, a total of allocation of $5.58 billion with a personnel cost of $3.599 billion and then capital budget for 2025 $906,120,895 and then overhead $1.066 billion for 2025

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