The House of Representatives is advocating for increased allocations to several critical government agencies beyond the figures proposed in the budget estimates in a significant move ahead of the potential passage of the N49.70 trillion 2025 budget.
Deputy Spokesman of the House, Mr. Philip Agbese, emphasized the necessity of this approach on Monday. “We are making a case for improved funding for the National Identity Management Commission, the National Youth Service Corps, and the Nigerian Defence Academy in the 2025 budget proposal. There are other agencies of government that are likely to benefit from this too,” Agbese stated to The PUNCH.
Highlighting the strategic importance of NIMC, Agbese explained, “Yes, NIMC has become a very important agency of government in the past few years… They came up with a robust projection for 2025 but they can only deliver if they are empowered to train their staff members, and acquire the latest technological devices critical to the work they do.”
Regarding the NYSC, Agbese argued for its reformation due to its significant role in national manpower development. “The ideal of the NYSC must be sustained and this informed the decision to demand adequate funding of the corps… We have it to be better funded to meet the needs of corps members,” he added.
On the Nigerian Defence Academy, he noted the need for enhanced capabilities in light of evolving security threats. “At a time terrorists continue to come up with new strategies… we cannot but devise means to outwit them. One of the ways to do this is to improve the funding of the institutions charged with the mandate of building the capacity of our security personnel.”
Agbese also touched on the broader budgetary constraints, mentioning the budget envelope system’s inadequacy in meeting agencies’ capital expenditure needs. He referenced the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who had previously highlighted the insufficient N50 billion allocation in the proposed budget.
The House’s support extends to foreign missions as well, with Agbese commending their service and noting an agreement to review their budget upwards. Oluwole Oke, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, had earlier expressed concerns about the proposed allocations, stating, “The needs assessment conducted by the ministry indicates they require N1.5tn… the ministry and its missions should receive at least N500bn.”
Agbese concluded with an optimistic note for the new year, urging Nigerians to maintain hope as the government, with parliamentary backing, works towards improving living conditions. “The current hardship being felt across the country will soon give way to national prosperity,” he assured.
This push for increased funding reflects the House’s commitment to fostering socio-economic development and national security through strategic budget allocations.