Connect with us

Politics

Budget: MDAs risk zero allocations over non-appearance at NASS panel – Senate

Published

4 months ago

on

The Senate on Monday said ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that fail to appear at its investigative hearing on revenue generation, remittance and expenditure of appropriated funds risk zero allocations in the 2025 fiscal year.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Sani Musa, said this at the resumed hearing of the committee on remittance of internally-generated revenue and expenditure by MDAs on the 2024 budget implementation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madehin, was present at the meeting.

Sani, who decried the discrepancies observed in the records of some of the MDAs said: “This performance index exercise on the various MDAs is preparatory to the 2025 budget.

“Any agency that fails to appear before this committee upon invitation risks zero allocation in the 2025 budget

“This is because the records of how appropriations made for 2024 were expended must be provided with facts and figures,” he said.

Earlier, the accountant-general had presented summary of the internally-generated revenue for the federal government up till September
2024.

The figures included: independent revenue of N2.7 trillion, operating surplus from government-owned enterprises (GOEs) amounting to N2.3 trillion and MDAs internally-generated revenue of N344 billion.

Madehin said that the centralised payment system of government was introduced to curb inefficiencies and prevent unutilised funds from being rolled over annually.

However, members of the committee said that the submitted report focused mainly on the accountant-general’s office, with significant omissions regarding the federal government’s overall financial activities.

The lawmakers, who took turns to speak, expressed reservation over delays in release and utilisation of funds for capital budgets, citing inefficiencies within the centralised payment system managed by the office of the accountant-general of the federation.

ALSO READ:  Dino Melaye Dominates Polling Unit

The lawmakers decried the centralised payment policy which required over 700 MDAs to process payments through a single office.

The policy, according to them, has resulted in inefficiencies and delayed project completions, noting that it is reducing public trust, especially in constituencies expecting execution of critical infrastructural projects.

NAN reports that concerns were also raised on the allegations that contractors were being asked to pay under-the-table fees, reportedly five per cent of the contract value, to expedite their payments.

The senators said that such practice, if verified and found to be true, would raise a major accountability issue, thus undermining the efficiency of the system.

Given the noticable gaps in the presentation, the committee resolved to invite other agencies for a joint session to ensure a comprehensive review of the noticeable discrepancies.

The agencies included Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)

“This is not about hearing from one side and another separately; we need all stakeholders to be present at the same time to provide clarity and consistency in their reports.

“The senate hearing reflects growing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s financial oversight and accountability mechanisms, with a shared commitment to enhancing transparency and building a robust fiscal policy framework,” said Sani, the committee chairman.

He urged the accountant-general of the federation to present all the reports, ahead of the meeting scheduled for Dec. 11. (NAN)

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Ighodalo Will Fail At Appeal Court—Edo Governor

Published

15 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, says Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 election, and the opposition party will fail in their bid to overturn his electoral victory at the appeal court.

On Wednesday, the Edo state governorship election petition tribunal affirmed Okpebholo as the elected governor of the state and dismissed Ighodalo’s petition.

Ighodalo, who rejected the tribunal’s ruling, said he respects the judiciary but noted that Edo people’s right to credible elections must not be compromised.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate also said his legal team has been instructed to challenge the judgment at the court of appeal.

However, speaking on Friday during a celebration hosted by his supporters, Okpebholo boasted that he would win at the appeal court and even at the supreme court.

The Edo governor said the opposition party is “wasting money on court cases,” adding that his “mandate cannot be hijacked”.

“The opposition party has been talking and shouting, but Edo people spoke very clear and loud with their votes on September 21, 2024,” Fred Itua, spokesperson to the governor, said in a statement.

“Edo people voted for the right person in Senator Monday Okpebholo. The people will speak again when the time is right.

“We have defeated them at the tribunal, and they said they want to appeal the ruling. If they like, let them appeal and even get to the Supreme Court. We will defeat them.

“They have stolen enough money from Edo State. So, they are wasting the money on court cases. If they like, let them spend the whole money they stole from the people.

ALSO READ:  Respect Your Age, Stepdown For Kwankwaso, NNPP Tells Atiku

“They will never steal Edo people’s mandates given to me and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the September 21st governorship election.”

In 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Okpebholo of the APC as the winner after he polled 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, his closest challenger, who scored 247,274 votes.

Continue Reading

Politics

S’Court Verdicts: Abure Remains Chairman —LP

Published

15 hours ago

on

April 5, 2025

By

The Labour Party (LP) says the judgment of the supreme court on Friday is an endorsement of Julius Abure’s leadership.

Reacting to the verdict, Obiora Ifoh, the party’s national publicity secretary, said Abure remains the LP chairman.

The apex court had nullified the judgment recognising Abure as national chairman of the party.

The court held that the issue of leadership is an internal affair of a party over which courts lack jurisdiction.

“Supreme Court strikes out Nenadi, Abure suits, says only Political Parties can determine who their leaders are,” Ifoh wrote on the party’s X page.

“It also said that the courts shouldn’t dabble into the affairs of the political parties. Abure is still the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

The supreme court had allowed the appeal filed by Nenadi Usman, a former senator representing Kaduna south, and one other — and held that there were meritorious.

The apex court also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Abure-led faction of the LP, describing it as lacking in merit.

ALSO READ:  PDP has not conducted South South zonal congress – NWC
Continue Reading

Politics

Ighodalo vows to Appeal tribunal verdict upholding Okpebholo’s election victory

Published

3 days ago

on

April 3, 2025

By

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 19 September governorship election in Edo, Mr Asue Ighodalo, has said he will challenge the tribunal’s judgment at the Court of Appeal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Edo election tribunal, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, reaffirmed Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s victory and dismissed the petitions from the PDP and Ighodalo.

Ighodalo, in a statement in Benin, said his decision to challenge the judgment aimed to protect Edo people’s collective rights and ensure they freely determine their future.

“Today, the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered its judgment on our petition challenging the outcome of the Sept. 21, 2024 election in our dear state.

“While we may not all agree with the verdict, we remain steadfast in our belief that the rule of law must continue as democracy’s foundational bedrock.

“Our pursuit of justice affirms our firm belief that Edo people’s right to freely choose their leaders through credible, free, and fair elections must always prevail.

“As a committed democrat, I respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and urge all Edo people to remain peaceful, calm, and law-abiding,” he stated.

Ighodalo said this was not the end of their journey but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

He commended the people for their massive support, sincere love, and belief in their shared vision for a prosperous Edo, which had fuelled their journey.

“For us, this has never been about personal ambition but about our conviction to create a clear ‘Pathway to Prosperity’ for Edo while upholding democracy’s core values.

ALSO READ:  Shehu Sani Commended Uba Sani For Attracting Qatar’s 500 Housing Units For The Poor

“I have, therefore, instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision, which we consider a serious miscarriage of justice.

“This is not about me or any single individual; it is about democracy’s essence, our collective right to determine our future, and our legacy for generations unborn.

“We remain resolute. We remain committed. We shall not waver in our pursuit of truth and justice,” Ighodalo said. (NAN)

Continue Reading