The Federal Government has commenced preparations for the 2025 national budget, issuing a stern warning to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to adhere strictly to their mandates when submitting budget proposals.
The Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, emphasized the importance of quality in the national budget, noting that stakeholders often question the relevance, execution, and effectiveness of budgetary proposals. He stressed that the training on the GIFMIS budget preparation subsystem offers a crucial opportunity for MDAs to improve their budget submissions.
Yakubu urged MDAs to avoid including projects outside their mandated responsibilities, emphasizing the need for coherent and purpose-driven budget proposals that align with the government’s vision for security and development. He reminded MDAs of their responsibility to transform government priorities into actionable programs and projects.
The warning comes in the wake of concerns about budget padding, with Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, identifying over 687 projects worth N112 billion allocated to agencies outside their mandate in 2023.
The Director-General acknowledged the challenges facing the current administration, including insecurity and limited resources, which have intensified the fiscal challenges. He emphasized that the use of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System Budget Preparation Sub-System (GIFMIS/BPS) technology is a crucial step towards achieving a more efficient budgetary system.
Yakubu expressed commitment to implementing reforms that promote efficient resource allocation, address multidimensional poverty, and enhance infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria. He concluded that the GIFMIS Budget Preparation Subsystem Training Session provides an invaluable opportunity to acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to improve budgetary processes.
