The National Assembly is gearing up to increase the N47.94 trillion proposed for Nigeria’s 2025 budget, as various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) push for higher allocations during ongoing budget defense sessions.
Lawmakers and government officials have expressed concern over what they see as inadequate funding, with multiple agencies requesting more resources to fulfill their mandates.
During a session on January 9, Environment Minister Abbas Balarabe Lawal called for an increase in his ministry’s proposed N64.25 billion allocation, which includes N58.65 billion for capital projects and N5.6 billion for recurrent expenses.
Other government agencies also voiced their concerns, with the National Park Service’s Ibrahim Goni asking for a N5.01 billion intervention to address security and illegal mining challenges, and the Forest Research Institute’s Zacharia Yaduma highlighting severe budgetary constraints.
The Ministry of Defence also raised alarms over its N50.44 billion budget, with Minister of State Dr. Bello Matawalle requesting an additional N20 billion for the compensation of fallen military personnel and to secure more equipment to tackle insecurity.
“We need the sum of N20 billion as an additional fund for payment to families of deceased military personnel,” Matawalle said. “The budget of 2025 is just N50 billion, and we have a shortfall of N18 billion from last year’s budget.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Correctional Service’s Sylvester Nwakuche appealed for a substantial increase to its N13.4 billion allocation, requesting N70.4 billion to modernize the service’s facilities, integrate technology, and improve security infrastructure.
INEC, too, criticized its N40 billion allocation, proposing an increase to N126 billion to adequately fund the 2025 election process, while lawmakers expressed frustration over the N20.8 billion set aside for the Ministry of Livestock Development, describing it as insufficient for the ministry’s operations.
In the past five years, the National Assembly has consistently increased the budget from the figures initially proposed by the executive, and this year is expected to follow the same trend.
