The Nigerian government has begun preparing the 2025 appropriation bill, warning ministries, departments, and organisations to submit only line items within their mandates.

The Budget Office Director-General, Tanimu Yakubu, announced this at a ceremony to begin GIFMIS budget preparation subsystem training for ministries, divisions, and agencies. It advised MDAs to prioritise initiatives that support the administration’s economic goals.

He said the training was part of attempts to sensitise the budgetary process to the national budget’s quality, a longstanding worry.

Stakeholders have long questioned the relevance, execution, and efficacy of our national budget, he said.

“Today’s training offers a critical opportunity for all ministries, departments and agencies to reflect on their roles in the budget process. Together, we can ensure that our budget proposals for 2025 are not only robust and focused but also aligned with our national priorities.”

He also exhorted all MDAs to submit projects that fall within the legal parameters of their responsibilities.

“I urge All MDAs to stay through to their mandates. Our executive budget proposals must be coherent and purpose-driven, embodying the government’s vision for security and development.

“You hold the vital responsibility of transforming government priorities into actionable programs and projects. I encourage you to meticulously review your submissions to ensure they align with the overarching goal to safeguard the essential economic functions of producing, distributing and consuming goods and services.”

This statement is made in light of the criticisms and dissatisfaction expressed by Nigerians regarding the careless addition of projects outside the main purview of government parastatals.

BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, Tracka, announced in 2023 that it had found over 687 projects totalling N112 billion that had been given to agencies that were not part of their mission.

Speaking about the terrible status of the nation’s economy, the DG said that the current administration is dealing with serious budgetary difficulties that are made worse by the coexisting problems of resource scarcity and insecurity, which impede our attempts to stop the economy’s downward spiral.

He continued by saying that one of the stages to creating a more effective budgetary system is to adopt the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System Budget Preparation Sub-System technology.

To lower the cost of doing business in Nigeria, he pledged to carry out measures that support effective resource allocation, alleviate multifaceted poverty, and improve our infrastructure.

“The GIFMIS Budget Preparation Subsystem Training Session provides us with an invaluable opportunity to acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance our budgetary processes. This technology-driven system is designed to improve efficiency, eliminate bottlenecks, and promote accountability,” Yakubu concluded.