FG to prioritize funding in 2025 budget based on needs assessment

By Kunle Sanni

The Federal Government has announced plans to allocate funds in the 2025 budget based on a thorough needs assessment, prioritizing essential projects and agencies. This strategic approach aims to align funding with the actual requirements and relevance of government agencies to the administration’s goals.

Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, outlined these plans during a briefing with journalists after a one-day fact-finding tour of various government agencies under the State House. He emphasized the importance of prioritization in light of the nation’s limited resources.

Gbajabiamila expressed concerns about the current funding and performance of several agencies, questioning their effectiveness in fulfilling their mandates and their alignment with the administration’s vision, particularly the Renewed Hope Agenda. He also suggested that merging or scrapping underperforming agencies could optimize resource allocation.

“In any country, resources are limited. For us, it is about prioritizing. Where are we so far? What have the agencies done? How have they measured up to their mandates, and how important are their mandates in terms of the vision of this administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda?” Gbajabiamila remarked.

The government’s approach marks a strategic shift towards efficiency and accountability in resource management, ensuring public funds are directed toward initiatives that genuinely advance the nation’s development.

“A lot of agencies are not properly funded. Do we merge some of these agencies, do we scrap some? I’m not talking about the State House agencies. In 2025, we are not going to budget in a vacuum. We will budget based on needs assessment,” he stated.

During separate interactions with the Heads and staff of the agencies, the Chief of Staff pledged that the Presidency would work to improve the welfare and working conditions of staff within the agencies under the State House’s supervision. He urged the staff to embrace innovation, excellence, and professionalism, supporting their Chief Executives to succeed.

Accompanied by Deputy Chief of Staff, Sen. Ibrahim Hadeija, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations, Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Gbajabiamila also stressed the importance of transparency in procurement processes, which is critical to upholding the administration’s commitment to good governance and accountability.

The Chief of Staff visited key agencies, including the Nigeria Agriculture and Land Development Agency (NALDA), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

During the tour, Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of these agencies in driving the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the economic and development sectors and reiterated the administration’s resolve to strengthen these institutions. He noted that this visit, the first of its kind under the current administration, followed a recent one-day retreat for the Heads of State House Agencies, aimed at reinforcing the administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions and reducing the cost of governance.

Assuring the agencies that their concerns regarding staff remuneration, inadequate office accommodation, and other legitimate challenges would be addressed, Gbajabiamila stated that measures would be implemented to create a more conducive work environment.

Engaging with the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NALDA, Engr. Cornelius Adebayo, Gbajabiamila reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to diversifying the economy through the agriculture sector, emphasizing its crucial role in achieving food security. He highlighted the administration’s focus on agriculture and food security, trusting NALDA to continue innovating through initiatives like greenhouse development and expanding arable land cultivation nationwide.

At BPP, the Chief of Staff, while responding to a presentation by the acting Director-General, Olusegun Omotola, commended the agency for saving the federal government N1.7 trillion from 2009 to 2022 by blocking loopholes in procurement processes. He disclosed that the federal government has initiated a review of the BPP Act to align it with international best practices, reduce corruption, and streamline bureaucratic processes.

Gbajabiamila also pledged the government’s readiness to address staff remuneration issues, which have not been reviewed in years, drawing comparisons with the Debt Management Office, which has undergone multiple salary structure reviews.

“The Act establishing the Bureau is currently undergoing a review process to meet international best practices, reduce corruption, red tape, and bureaucracy. We will also look into staff remuneration, which has not been reviewed over the years, especially when compared with sister agencies like the Debt Management Office,” he said.

Regarding the National Council on Procurement (NCP), an establishment of the law that has never been inaugurated since the Bureau’s creation, the Chief of Staff hinted that President Tinubu intends to inaugurate the Council, recognizing the need for the proposed amendments to the BPP Act.

At the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Gbajabiamila commended the agency for remitting over N1 trillion in proceeds to the Federal Government since 1999, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement. “We are ready to work with you to help you achieve your mandate optimally,” he assured.

BPE’s Director-General, Ayodeji Gbeleyi, revealed that the agency had received N93.4 billion from privatization projects in the first and second quarters of 2024, though this fell short of the revised expected revenue of N259.7 billion.

At NAEC, the Chief of Staff reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation. Responding to a presentation by Prof. Yusuf Ahmed, the Chairman of NAEC, Gbajabiamila stated that the government recognizes the importance of incorporating nuclear technology into Nigeria’s energy mix to meet the nation’s growing energy needs.

At NASENI, Gbajabiamila commended the agency for championing local content development, particularly in electric vehicles, motorbikes, and solar-powered smart irrigation systems through accelerated technology transfer. He expressed President Bola Tinubu’s confidence in the nation’s human resources and their ability to lead technological advancement.

“I’m very impressed with what we have seen and heard,” the Chief of Staff said after a tour of NASENI’s facilities. “The fact that you have 35 market-ready products and have completed 44 tangible projects and initiatives in 10 months speaks volumes about your commitment, dedication, and passion for what you are doing.”

He emphasized the importance of creating an enabling work environment to boost staff morale and productivity. Given NASENI’s location in the Idu industrial layout, Abuja, approximately 30 kilometers from the city center, he urged the management to provide adequate support to ease transportation costs for employees.

In his remarks, Halilu thanked President Tinubu for his unwavering support for the agency. He reiterated NASENI’s commitment to conducting research, development, and the production and commercialization of products that contribute directly to Nigeria’s GDP and improve the lives of its people.