By Ed Malik, A | ed@ddnewsonline.com | posted 3rd february, 2025
The Nigerian House of Representatives is pushing for increased funding for important government agencies beyond what’s already proposed in the N49.70 trillion 2025 budget estimates. This is part of their efforts ahead of the budget’s potential passage. The Deputy Spokesman of the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, is front-leading in these advocacy push.
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Philip Agbese stressed the need for improved funding for key organizations, including the National Identity Management Commission, National Youth Service Corps, and Nigerian Defence Academy, in the 2025 budget proposal. He also mentioned that other government agencies could benefit from the advocacy for higher allocations.
“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
Agbese emphasized the importance of NIMC, especially its role in 2025. He argued for empowering the agency through staff training and updated technology, emphasizing, “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.”
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Regarding NYSC, Agbese argued for continued support with better funding to strengthen its role in national 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,”
For the Nigerian Defence Academy, he stressed the need for enhanced capabilities to address evolving security threats. “At a time when 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 pointed out the need for better funding for institutions responsible for enhancing the capacity of security personnel. He also discussed broader budgetary concerns, noting that the current budget system fails to meet agencies’ capital expenditure requirements.
He referenced concerns from the Minister of State for Defence regarding the inadequate N50 billion allocation.
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.
The current budget envelope system is seen as inadequate for meeting capital expenditure needs. This point is underscored by Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle’s earlier remark about an insufficient N50 billion allocation.
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.”
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Agbese emphasized that the outlook of critical agencies is bright for this year, urging Nigerians to maintain hope as the government as the parliament is working tirelessly towards improving living conditions of the people, assuring that “The current hardship being felt across the country will soon give way to national prosperity.”
This push for increased funding beyond initial proposal reflects the House’s commitment to fostering socio-economic development and national security through strategic budget allocations.