2025 Budget: National Assembly seeks significant increase
The National Assembly is poised to raise the proposed ₦47.94 trillion budget for 2025, following widespread appeals from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during budget defense sessions.
Lawmakers have voiced dissatisfaction with the budgetary allocations from the Presidency, deeming them inadequate to address critical funding needs across various sectors.
Over the past few days, the National Assembly has seen a flurry of activity as ministers and agency heads presented cases for increased funding.
On January 9, the Minister of Environment, Abbas Balarabe Lawal, urged lawmakers to boost his ministry’s ₦64.25 billion allocation to support key agencies such as the National Park Service, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Similarly, Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Environment Ministry, cited funding challenges, while Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service, requested ₦5.01 billion to tackle insecurity and illegal mining.
The Ministry of Defence also highlighted funding concerns. The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, appealed for an additional ₦20 billion to support families of fallen soldiers, noting that the current allocation of ₦50.44 billion was insufficient to meet security demands.
His appeal received backing from the House Committee on Defence, with Deputy House Spokesperson Hon. Philip Agbese advocating for increased military funding.
Other agencies made similar requests. The Nigerian Correctional Service Acting Comptroller-General, Sylvester Nwakuche, sought to expand its capital budget from ₦13.4 billion to ₦70.4 billion to enhance security infrastructure.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proposed an increase from ₦40 billion to ₦126 billion for election preparations, with Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stressing the financial burden of elections.
Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation criticized their allocations as inadequate, calling for supplementary budgets.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs also denounced the ₦286 million budget for Nigeria’s 109 missions abroad, with Chairman Hon. Wole Oke describing the envelope budgeting system as flawed and lacking legal grounding.
A senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations confirmed that the National Assembly has the constitutional authority to adjust the budget, signaling an imminent increase.
According to the lawmaker, the appeals presented during the sessions were deemed necessary and justified.
As reports from various standing committees are compiled, the budget is expected to be adjusted to reflect the financial needs outlined by MDAs. Official statements from House leadership remain pending.
