The Federal Government has commenced preparations for the 2025 national budget, instructing ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to include only projects within their official mandates. The government emphasized the importance of aligning budget proposals with the economic priorities of the current administration.
Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, disclosed this during a training session on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) budget preparation subsystem in Abuja on Tuesday. Yakubu highlighted the longstanding concerns over the quality and effectiveness of Nigeria’s national budget, stressing the need for more focused and relevant budgetary proposals.
“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,” Yakubu said. He called on MDAs to ensure that their budget inputs strictly adhere to their statutory responsibilities, warning against the insertion of projects outside their legal mandates.
In recent years, there have been complaints from the public about the inclusion of unaccountable projects in budget proposals. For instance, in 2023, BudgIT’s service delivery platform, Tracka, reported that 687 projects worth N112 billion were allocated to agencies outside their official remit.
Yakubu emphasized the critical role MDAs play in translating government priorities into actionable programs, urging them to be diligent in their budget submissions. “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,” he added.
The training on the GIFMIS Budget Preparation Subsystem is part of the government’s effort to enhance the efficiency of the budgetary process. Yakubu explained that the system aims to streamline processes, reduce bottlenecks, and promote greater accountability.
Yakubu also acknowledged the economic challenges facing the country, noting that the current administration is grappling with fiscal pressures exacerbated by insecurity and limited resources. He reiterated the government’s commitment to reforms that will improve resource allocation, address poverty, and enhance infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business.
“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,” Yakubu concluded, expressing optimism about the potential for the system to drive positive change in Nigeria’s budget planning and execution.
.
