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2025 Budget: Reps Panel Reject Envelop System Of Budget

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…as it decry poor funding for Nigerian missions abroad

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has criticized the Federal Government envelope system of budgeting, and stated that it lacks legal backing under Nigerian law.

The Committee also expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of only ₦286 million to sustain Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, describing the amount as grossly inadequate.

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According to documents submitted by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry had proposed a budget of about ₦1.5 trillion based on the needs of these missions.

During an interactive session with the Ministry and Budget Office of the Federation on Tuesday, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Wole Oke, expressed frustration and said, “I have not seen anywhere in our laws where envelop budgeting is mentioned.”

He described the proposed funding as insufficient for missions tasked with projecting the country’s image internationally.

“We’re concerned that what was submitted to Mr. President does not align with the actual needs assessment and is inconsistent with the law”, he added.

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In response, Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, stated that the allocation for foreign missions has been increased by 25 percent in the 2025 budget. He however, called on the National Assembly to pass the tax reform bills to enhance revenue generation.

Yakubu further suggested a temporary reduction in the number of Nigerian foreign missions, stating, “Why don’t we consider a significant reduction of our foreign missions until we’re able to improve our revenue?”

He noted that his hands were tied on the envelop budgeting system.
“We have 109 diplomatic missions abroad, comprising of 76 embassies, 22 High Commissions and 11 Consulates. The problem as you rightly described is as ubiquitous as Nigeria’s present worldwide.
“The situation was certainly worse three years ago when Nigeria’s debt service was proclaim almost 100 percent of the country’s revenue. We start to see improvement under this administration, when through debt financial engineering in year one, debt service was brought from as high  as 100 percent to 55 percent
“If you talk to our missions abroad, they will tell that last year was the year they started experiencing some relief.  We’re still not there yet. Bold reforms have been embarked on by the current administration, starting with the liberalisation of the foreign exchange rate, and the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS and other products.
“We expect to save about N11 trillion from this two models adopted. The savings started to materialize in October last year, but the main beneficiaries, especially the state governments collected the money and kept mute, but we knew that they took a lot more than they have for several years.
“We have brought before the National Assembly, tax Bills that you’re considering, that we expect you to improve so that we’ll be able to collect more revenue
“Mr President has gone out of his way to inisit on 2.12 million barrels per day, a very ambitious target for oil output… He has seen that we must look  for the revenue to be to attend to these needs. That’s why this year’s budget is ambitious. Last year, it was about N36 trillion but this year, it almost N50 trillion.
“We have to continue to manage scarcity,  whether we call it envelop budgeting”, he said.

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Protests erupt in Plateau over incessant k!llings

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Protests erupted in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday morning over the continued killings of indigenous residents by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants.

The demonstrations, led by Christian leaders including the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, commenced on Monday morning at the Fawvwei Junction community road, causing a heavy gridlock and stranding commuters.

The latest protest comes amid a surge in violent attacks by gunmen in various communities, with over 100 people killed in Bokkos and Bassa LGAS in the past two weeks.

“We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. That’s why we have come out again to protest these happenings,” said Gyang Dalyop, one of the protesters.

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Another protester, Hannatu Philip, called on the government to intervene before it spirals out of control.

The protesters brandishing placards with different inscriptions were seen marching towards the Rayfield Government House.

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Tinubu not your equal – Presidency replies Peter Obi’s ex-running mate, Datti

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The Presidency has said the former Labour Party, LP, presidential running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is no match for President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare was reacting to Datti’s remark that he (Tinubu) would not run for the presidency in 2027.

The former LP running mate insisted that Tinubu’s time is up, adding that everything is there for the president and the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, to see that they lose in 2027.

Dismissing such remark, Dare likened Datti’s comment to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through.

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In a statement he signed, Dare said the likes of Peter Obi and Datti would have been president left for the latter’s theories.

According to Dare, Datti has chosen to venture into an unfamiliar terrain.

The statement reads partly: “Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s “illogical logic” was all over the place in his recent interview with a television channel.

“Listening to Yusuf Datti Baba- Ahmed spurn his postulations about the political future of Nigeria and that of the incumbent President is like listening to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through. Yusuf Baba Ahmed and his co-traveller Peter Obi are indeed a “double whammy“ in the Nigerian political space.

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“He chose to base his political calculations on President Bola Tinubu not winning a second term given his antecedents and because Nigerians will decide at the polls among other things. He conveniently avoided the substance of performance and capacity.

“Unfortunately, he chose to walk into a lane he was unfamiliar with and chose to confront a politician he is no match for.”

Similarly, the Presidency had also stressed that Tinubu will reveal his plans for a second term at the right time.

It said the APC 2027 presidential campaign billboards had no links to Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

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‘Conducting unfair election in 2027 will lead to Nigeria’s demise’ – Top Northern Politician Sends Warning To Tinubu

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Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned that any attempt by the government in power to manipulate the 2027 general elections will be resisted.

He also said that should the polls or its results be tampered with, this would create dire consequences for the country.

Baba-Ahmed said this in a viral video seen by 9NEWS NIGERIA.

The former leader of the Northern Elders Forum who just resigned his position as a presidential aide said conducting a bad election might lead to Nigeria’s end.

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“Conducting a bad election in 2027 may lead to the end of Nigeria, I swear to God,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He further stated that elders from the Northern region would soon take a stand on the nation’s politics ahead of the 2027 election.

“There will be a time we will come out and say it’s okay, and it’s soon. This injustice is over. We know who we are,” he warned.

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