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Tag: 2025 Budget

  • 2025 Budget: NPF calls for special operations account

    2025 Budget: NPF calls for special operations account

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has called for the establishment of a Special Operations Account to fund emergency internal security operations.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, made the call on Thursday during the 2025 budget defence before the joint Committee on Police Affairs and Police Institutions.

    Egbetokun explained that, in spite of incremental progress, the appropriations and subsequent releases remained insufficient to meet the operational and institutional needs of the police force.

    He stressed that given the vast scope of responsibilities and the critical nature of their mandate, the financial provisions were inadequate.

    “A significant challenge persists in the absence of a Special Operations Account, which would enable the Force to fund emergency internal security operations,” he said.

    He urged the committees to support the establishment and proper funding of this account in the 2025 budget cycle.

    Presenting the NPF’s 2025 budget proposal, Egbetokun revealed that the original institutional estimate for the fiscal year was N1.896 trillion, but was reviewed downward to N1.252 trillion, a reduction of N644.106 billion.

    He highlighted three critical challenges facing the police force: inadequate appropriations, which hindered modernisation efforts and service delivery; the restrictive envelope budgetary system, which failed to account for the Force’s expanding mandate; and delays in fund releases.

    These delays, he explained, disrupt planning and operational preparedness, making it difficult for the Nigeria Police Force to effectively address internal security challenges.

    Egbetokun urged the committees to remove the Nigeria Police Force from the envelope budgetary regime to allow for more accurate funding projections.

    He also called for the allocation of funds for constructing five new zonal headquarters and supporting tactical units crucial to internal security.

  • 2025 budget: Osun govt targets N109 bn IGR

    2025 budget: Osun govt targets N109 bn IGR

    The Osun state government has set a target of N109.8 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to finance its N427 billion budget for 2025.

    The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development, Prof. Moruf Adeleke, disclosed this during the analysis of the state’s 2025 budget, on Thursday in Osogbo.

    Adeleke said while the state hoped to generate N109.8 billion internally, N251 billion was expected from the Federation Account to finance the budget.

    He said that in equally N36 billion was expected from other capital receipts, with N30 billion being the estimated opening balance for the  budget.

    The commissioner said that the budget christened ” Budget of Sustainable Growth and Transformation”  had N236 billion as its recurrent expenditure, representing 55 per cent.

    Adeleke further explained that capital expenditure in the budget stood at N191 billion, being 45 per cent of the total budget.

    The commissioner said that under the recurrent expenditure, N102 billion would be used for personnel cost, comprising salaries, allowances, salary arrears, social contribution and benefits.

    He said that this represented 24 per cent of the budget size.

    Furthermore, Adeleke said that N29 billion under its recurrent expenditure  would be used to service part of the debt incurred by the previous administration, among others

    On the capital expenditure, Adeleke said that N6.6 billion was allocated to health, N27.5 billion to education, while  N6 billion was allocated towater and sanitation

    He said that N106 billion was allocated for  infrastructure development.

    The commissioner said that the ministry would  ensure strict monitoring and implementation of the budget to meet targets and expectations.

    ”Citizens of the State are thereby urged to cooperate with the revenue generating agencies in order to achieve the developmental goal of the state.

    “Proper enforcement towards generating revenue could also be encouraged to block revenue leakages.

    “By implementing these strategies, Osun State can create a more reliable and sustainable source of income to finance the 2025 budget,” he said.

  • Reps demand TETFund’s 2024 budget breakdown

    Reps demand TETFund’s 2024 budget breakdown

    The House of Representatives has directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to provide a detailed breakdown of its 2024 allocations.

    It also urged TETFund to present the 2025 budget estimates to beneficiary institutions before further implementation.

    This resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Sulaiman Gumi (PDP-Zamfara) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Presenting the motion, he noted that Section 1 of the TETFund Act, 2011, authorises the assessment and collection of the Education Tax from the assessable profits of all companies registered in Nigeria.

    He further stated that the tax is to be assessed and collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for remittance to TETFund.

    He added that TETFund, among other statutory responsibilities, is tasked with administering and disbursing the tax funds to eligible public tertiary institutions for the advancement of education, knowledge, and skills.

    The lawmaker expressed concern over reported cases of discrepancies in tax collections, accruals, remittances, transfers, and issues surrounding the judicious utilisation and equitable disbursement of the Education Tax Fund.

    He added that TETFund’s 2024 budget lacked the necessary breakdowns and details of its expenditures and approved guidelines required for legislative scrutiny, as stipulated by law.

    Adopting the motion, the House directed TETFund to submit reports of audited accounts of the fund, along with the receipts of beneficiary institutions, from 2018 to date.

    The House also instructed TETFund to refrain from disbursing or authorising any funds until the detailed breakdown of its proposed 2025 budget has been scrutinised and approved by the House.

    Furthermore, the House mandated the FIRS to submit a list of Education Tax payers and the total yearly amounts collected from 2011 to date.

    The Committee on TETFund and other relevant committees were tasked with implementing the resolutions and reporting back to the House within four weeks.

  • JAMB registrar, Oloyede explains controversial 2025 budget proposal

    JAMB registrar, Oloyede explains controversial 2025 budget proposal

    The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has decried the misrepresentation of figures in the 2025 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance.

    Oloyede, while fielding questions from newsmen at a sideline of an event in Abuja on Tuesday, dismissed reports making rounds that the Board spent huge amount on fumigation, meals, among other items in 2024.

    Oloyede stated that the Board’s total expenditure for fumigation across all states in 2024 was less than N1 million.

    He said that what was presented before the commitee was not the 2024 expenditure but solely the 2025 budget proposal.

    He added that claims regarding humongous spending in 2024 on meals or fumigation, security and cleaning were totally unfounded.

    “I want to say emphatically, without any iota of doubt, that I never presented any budget performance of 2024 before the National Assembly yesterday. I think it’s a lot of misunderstanding.

    “I did not talk about 2024 budget performance. And we did not spend any money, any humongous money in 2024.

    “Indeed, what we spent on fumigation in the whole state of the Federation, all offices in 2024, not up to N1million. And what we budgeted for 2025 for fumigation is less than N2 million,” he said.

    Oloyede explained that misunderstandings arose because the detailed breakdown of the budget proposal was not fully reviewed during the presentation.

    On the N6.5 billion allegedly spent on training in 2024, Oloyede said the money was just a proposal for 2025 that cut across various budget lines.

    He added that this included monitoring of examination, admission expenses, e-facilities payment, awards for best higher education institutions, among others.

    “We have 10,500 examiners and invigilators going to conduct both the mock and the UTME. Some of them stay for 10 days.

    “I do not determine their DTA. It’s the government that determines the DTA to be paid to them. So what offence have I committed in putting their claims together?” he said.

    On the alleged huge amount spent on meal, Oloyede said “Everybody knows that at the JAMB headquarters, we provide one lunch for those in the headquarters. And we provide this lunch for them, partly because we don’t want our system to be destroyed.

    ” Apart from the fact that there are security reasons for not allowing people going in and coming out.

    “You also know that we have some ICT infrastructure that will be damaged if we allow people to be bringing food and remnant.

    ” So we created the canteen and we provide for them. So we are now saying for 2025, we should provide for 2,300.

    “2,300 times 22 days, times 12 months, what will it be if not over N1 billion? ”

    Speaking on the clamour for downward review of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) fee, he said the fee remained reviewed from N5,000 to N3,500.

    “This is the least paid anywhere in the world for any admission unless you want it to be given free.

    ” And we can assure you, if we are given a fair opportunity to explain, Nigerians will know that I, Ishaq Oloyede, would not misappropriate or misuse money,” he said.

    Oloyode said the figure proposed for cleaners, security, among others were also misrepresented.

    “In all the states of the federation, we have 580 security men and cleaners. Where would their salaries come from?.

    “The increase in minimum wage from N30,000 to N70, 000 will also lead to increase in their budgetary provision.

    He, however, expressed hope that the National Assembly committee would allow him to provide further clarifications on the budget to resolve any lingering misunderstandings.

  • Senate Committee rejects 2025 budget for Ministry of Information

    Senate Committee rejects 2025 budget for Ministry of Information

    The Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation has rejected the eight  billion Naira 2025 budget for Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Emeka Eze,  during the budget defense on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the budgetary provision for the ministry was grossly inadequate.

    Eze also said that the committee would summon the Minister of Budget and National Planning to discuss how  the budget of the ministry can be improved.

    Details to follow…

  • BREAKING: JAMB clarifies spending N850m on mosquitoes, to feed staff with N1.1bn

    BREAKING: JAMB clarifies spending N850m on mosquitoes, to feed staff with N1.1bn

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified reports that it spent N850 million on mosquitoes in 2024, and disclosed that in 2025, it will spend N1.1 billion to feed 2,300 staff members.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports JAMB to have also made clarification the N6.4 billion proposed for “Local Travel and Transport (Training)” for staff and other officials to be assigned to conduct the 2025 UTME-mock examination and other engagements.

    Recall that JAMB officials on Monday 13th January, 2025 appeared before the Joint Committee of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Finance to defend its 2025 budget proposal.

    JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor (PCA), Fabian Benjamin disclosed that at no time during the budget defence did the board presented its 2024 expenditure. Benjamin stressed that JAMB on the prompting of the Committee only presented its 2025 budget proposal.

    “During this session there was no presentation of any 2024 expenditure of N1.1 billion for feeding or N850 million for fumigation,” he stated.

    Benjamin clarified that among the items included in the 2025 budget proposal is the provision of one meal per day for the 2,300 staff members of the board.

    “Among the items included in the 2025 budget proposal is the provision of one meal per day for the 2,300 staff members (cleaners/security inclusive) of the Board nationwide, covering all working days throughout the year.

    “Over the past two years, the cost of providing this meal for headquarters staff (on the 2 offices in the Board) was N1, 200 per day, per staff. However, due to rising food prices, vendors have requested an increase to N2, 200 (including 13.5% taxes).

    “Based on this new price, the total cost for providing meals for 2,300 staff members throughout the working days in 2025 is projected to be N1.27 billion. Nevertheless, JAMB has budgeted N1.1 billion for this purpose,” he stated.

    Explaining further the JAMB PCA clarified that: “the initiative to provide meals is a recognition of the sensitive responsibilities of JAMB staff. To minimize their exposure to the public during working hours and avoid the danger that eating in the offices posed to ICT infrastructure, the management sought and obtained approval to start providing lunch at the Headquarters, with plans to extend this initiative to all the offices nationwide, in response to consistent requests from outstation employees; we plan to commence the initiative to all the 2,300 workers of the Board”.

    “Another significant provision in the budget proposal is the N850 million earmarked for the emolument of outsourced cleaners, security personnel, cleaning materials, fumigation services and tax.

    :In compliance with government policy on outsourcing, JAMB has engaged firms and agencies that provide 386 security personnel and 194 cleaners across its over forty offices and PTC centers nationwide.

    “The N850 million proposed in the budget proposal covers running and operational costs, with only N2 million specifically earmarked for fumigation services for the year. (It was less than N1million in 2024).

    “This budget reflects the recent salary review mandated by the government, and it is misleading to suggest that a meaningful portion of the budget is solely dedicated to fumigation when the least paid of the security men earns the minimum pay of N30, 000.00 which is now projected to be N70, 000.00 while cleaners pay would be at least doubled.

    “This clarification is vital to prevent misinformation in the public space, as the submitted provisions represent a budget proposal rather than expenditures already incurred by the Board in 2024.

    “All capital, overhead, and operational costs of the Board are met from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Board. While the government covers the salaries of only pensionable JAMB staff.

    “Additionally, clarification is needed regarding the N6.4 billion proposed for “Local Travel and Transport (Training)” for the over 10,500 staff and other officials to be assigned to conduct the 2025 UTME-mock examination and other engagements.

    “The template provided for Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) mandates that all expenditures peculiar to JAMB be categorized under this heading. The Board is not allowed to create any other heading.

    “As a Government Owned Enterprise, JAMB is compelled to comply with the Budget Information Management Monitoring System (BIMMS) for GOEs and that explains why the amount was lumped under the heading but with asterisk and details provided on the succeeding page of the submission which the Board was disallowed to explain”.

  • NASS committee rejects Solid Minerals Ministry’s budget estimates

    NASS committee rejects Solid Minerals Ministry’s budget estimates

    The National Assembly joint committee on Solid Minerals, on Friday, rejected the budget estimates of the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

    The committee said that the estimates presented were greatly inadequate.

    The Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Ekong Sampson, stated this after the Minister, Dele Alake, presented the ministry’s 2025 budget estimate before the committee.

    The call for the rejection of the budget followed a motion moved by Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau) and seconded by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi).

    Moving the motion, Plang expressed displeasure that the ministry got just N9 billion as an envelope out of the N539.7 billion it proposed for capital expenditure in the 2025 budget.

    The chairman also expressed great displeasure over the ministry’s budget because of the importance of solid mineral sector to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

    “This is because of the potential in not addressing the key concerns in this sector at a time that Nigeria is in a grand need to diversify the economy.

    “The estimates presented before us are grossly inadequate and will not help our economy at this critical period, when we have to invest in the future, consistent with what obtains in other economies.

    “We’ve taken this position in the interest of this country and as a support item to the vision of government as it were that this budget clearly needs a review.

    “The need for this review clearly contemplates the peculiarities in the sector.

    “Time has gone by and you have to take a very bold step in exploration, in data gathering, in tackling major drawbacks that have put us in dire situations as a nation richly endowed but faced, as it were with the contradictions in abundance.

    “It is the view of the joint committee that the budget of this sector be reviewed upwards.

    “I think that is the spirit of the meeting, in the meantime, we will suspend further decisions on this budget unless those steps are taken.

    “The budget for this sector needs radical upward review. So the joint session rejects the estimate before us. We will step everything down,” he said.

    The co-chairman, Mr Gaza Gbefwi, representing Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituencies, also supported the move for the suspension of the budget defence.

    “I move that we suspend this budget screening for the Ministry of Solid Minerals for the fact that what is appropriated to them, if it is true, is beyond imagination.

    “Also, we are here to pass a budget not for the ministry, not for us, but for Nigerians and the progress of this country.

    “I, therefore, propose that we step down this screening of the budget presented to us and request that we invite the Minister of Planning and Budget to appear before this committee,” he said.

    Earlier, the Minister, Dele Alake, said that the ministry in 2025, proposed N539.7 billion for capital expenditure and N2 billion for overhead cost, making it a total budget of N541.7 billion for the ministry.

    “In contrite distinction to the avowed objective of the economic diversification of Nigeria away from oil into green energy, into harnessing the solid minerals sector, the envelope that the ministry received was a far cry from our proposal.

    “We proposed N539.7 billion for capital in 2025, but the envelope that came is a paltry N9 billion,” he said

    On the 2024 budget performance of the ministry, Alake said that the overhead cost was 100 per cent performance while the capital was a dismal 18 per cent performance which was based on releases.

    “When I did a panoramic view of the entire budget from other ministries, it is a kind of a general problem.

    “The budget releases were not as expected which really hampered the capital budget in 2024.

    “We rely on your support and effort to correct this anomaly, because if we are going to achieve all our objectives, there is no way we can achieve them,” he said.

    In terms of revenue generated, Alake said that the ministry generated N37.8 billion in 2024 as above the N11 billion projected.

  • INEC rejects 2025 budget allocation, demands N126bn

    INEC rejects 2025 budget allocation, demands N126bn

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought an increase in its budgetary allocation to N126 billion, against the N40 billion earmarked for it in the 2025 budget estimates.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the request on Friday in Abuja at the budget defence session of Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters.

    Mahmood, in his presentation ,said elections in Nigeria had become huge burden, requiring adequate funding.

    “Our proposal for the 2025 budget, the provision requires the sum of over N126 billion. We have the document that has provided details, line-by-line details ,on how we intend to spend the 126 billion.

    “We would like the support of the National Assembly to enable us achieve our responsibilities in the first line charge and most of these responsibilities are constitutional.

    ”In a nutshell, the N40 billion budget envelope given to us for 2025, will not cover one third of projected expenses which totally amounts to over N126 billion.

    ”Aside the off-cycle elections for 21 constituencies to be filled through bye-elections and the Anambra Governorship election this year, personnel cost alone on account of new minimum wage, will gulp the N40 billion budgetary envelope,” he said.

    He said the inadequacy of the N40 billion budget envelope made the electoral body to receive intervention funds of N10.5 billion for Edo and Ondo elections in 2024 and another N500 million for bye-elections on affected constituencies in 2024.

    Members of the committee, in their individual submissions, assured that the proposed sum would be appropriated in the 2025 fiscal year.

    Sen. Ireti Kingibe, in her submission, said the situation was not about looking for the N126 billion for INEC in 2025 fiscal year, but providing it.

    The committee thereafter resolved into a closed-door session with the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to deliberate further on how to source the funds and appropriate it in 2025 budget.

  • Why we increased Borno 2025 budget by N31bn – Speaker

    Why we increased Borno 2025 budget by N31bn – Speaker

    Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, says the N31 billion increase in the 2025 estimate will address gaps in key sectors.

    Recall that Governor Babagana Zulum on December 9 presented a N584.76 billion proposed budget, to the state House of Assembly.

    However, the legislators approved N615,857 billion budget with an increase of over N31 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.

    Lawan, who gave the clarifications in an interview on Tuesday in Maiduguri, said the increase was based on recommendations during budget defense sessions involving Mministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    “The increase followed a thorough review by the House Committee on Appropriation in collaboration with other standing committees. It became necessary to allocate additional funds to critical areas that were overlooked in the initial budget proposal,” he said.

    He said the Ministry of Health received an additional N7 billion to improve healthcare service delivery, to equip the newly constructed Borno State Teaching Hospital and operationalise the newly built health centers in the local government areas.

    According to Lawan, healthcare is a top priority of the government, hence additional funds will ensure that the teaching hospital fully equipped and operational while services will be enhance at health centers established in 2024.

    He said the allocation of N5 billion to the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Youth Development would tackle poverty exacerbated by years of insecurity in the state.

    “Borno State has faced severe poverty challenges due to insecurity, the increased allocation will support programmes aimed at creating sustainable livelihood and empowering citizens, especially the youths,” he said.

    He said the Security Trust Fund also got additional N5 billion, to enhance its operations, while the office of Secretary to the State Government and  Intergovernmental Affairs also received substantive amount of allocation.

    “The Security Trust Fund supports logistics for the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), vigilantes, and other security agencies. The funds will boost efforts to ensure peace and stability by providing vehicles, fuel and other operational needs,” he added.

    The speaker lauded Zulum for ensuring extensive investments in key sectors, such as construction of mega schools and establishment of specialised institutions for children from conflict affected areas of the state.

    “The governor built over 30 mega schools in each senatorial district, and established schools like the Muhammadu Buhari Academy to cater for children displaced by insecurity in Borno North. Thousands of children now have access to quality education,” he said.

    He said the state government sponsored over 200 students for advanced studies in China, India and other countries, to study engineering, computer science and public administration.

    These initiatives, he said, reflected Zulum’s commitment to securing a brighter future for the state through education and human capital development.

    While reitrating commitment of the legislators to support initiatives that promote development, Lawan urged stakeholders to work collectively for sustainable development of the state.

  • Lagos Assembly passes 2025 appropriation bill of N3.4trn

    Lagos Assembly passes 2025 appropriation bill of N3.4trn

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday passes appropriation bill of N3,367 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year of the state.

    The budget was approved by voice votes at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa on Monday.

    Obasa explained that passage followed the presentation of a report on the budget by Mr Sa’ad Olumoh, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance.

    Recall Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Nov. 21, presented a budget proposal of N3.005 trillion to the House for approval.

    The governor, during the presentation, told the lawmakers that the budget has a deficit financing of N408.9 billion adding that the deficit would be financed from external and internal loans and bonds.

    The speaker said the approved budget was made of N1.295 trillion as recurrent expenditure while N2.071 trillion was earmarked as capital expenditure for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025.

    Obasa, thereafter, directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy of the passed bill to governor for assent.

    The Speaker commended his colleagues for their painstaking efforts leading to the passage of the budget.

    Meanwhile, the House, during plenary on Monday, also passed a bill to consolidate all laws on Local Government Administration in Lagos State.

    The bill further makes provisions based on constitutional amendments as well as amendments by the National Assembly which have direct effects on the local governments in the state.