The Federal Government has commenced preparation of the 2025 national budget, with a stern warning to ministries, departments and agencies to input only line items within their mandates.
It also urged the MDAs to focus on projects that align with the economic priorities of the current administration.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, on Tuesday at an event to commence training on the GIFMIS budget preparation subsystem for ministries, departments and agencies in Abuja.
According to him, the quality of our national budget has been a long-standing concern, and the training is part of efforts to sensitize the budgetary process.
He said, “The quality of our national budget has been a long-standing concern, with stakeholders often questioning the relevance, execution and effectiveness of our budgetary proposals.
“Today’s training offers a critical opportunity for all ministries, departments and agencies to reflect on their roles in the budget process.
Together, we can ensure that our budget proposals for 2025 are not only robust and focused but also aligned with our national priorities.”
He further urged all MDAs to only input projects within their mandates as stipulated by the law.
“I urge All MDAs to stay through to their mandates. Our executive budget proposals must be coherent and purpose-driven, embodying the government’s vision for security and development.
“You hold the vital responsibility of transforming government priorities into actionable programs and projects.
I encourage you to meticulously review your submissions to ensure they align with the overarching goal to safeguard the essential economic functions of producing, distributing and consuming goods and services.”
This comment is against the backdrop of complaints and displeasure registered by Nigerians over the reckless insertion of unaccountable insertions of projects outside the primary mandate of government parastatals.
In 2023, Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, said it discovered that over 687 projects worth N112bn were allocated to agencies outside their mandate.
Speaking on the dire economic situation in the country, the DG stated that the current administration is traversing significant fiscal challenges intensified by the dual issues of insecurity and limited resources that hinder our efforts to reverse economic decline.
He added that the use of Government Integrated Financial Management Information System Budget Preparation Sub-System technology is part of the steps to achieve a more efficient budgetary system.
He expressed commitment to implementing reforms that promote efficient resource allocation, address multidimensional poverty, and enhance our infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria.
“The GIFMIS Budget Preparation Subsystem Training Session provides us with an invaluable opportunity to acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance our budgetary processes.
This technology-driven system is designed to improve efficiency, eliminate bottlenecks, and promote accountability,” Yakubu concluded.
