NASS To Withdraw Funding From NPA, NIMASA, FIRS
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to revenue-generating agencies, demanding their appearance for 2025 budget defence or risking exclusion from government funding for their operations in 2025.
The committee expressed frustration over the agencies’ failure to honour invitations to present their budget defence and revenue profiles.
Affected agencies include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and others.
During the session, Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, highlighted the directive by President Bola Tinubu, who emphasised the importance of budgetary transparency.
“The President has mandated all ministers and agency heads to defend their budgets before the National Assembly. Failure to comply undermines accountability and governance,” Musa stated.
Additional agencies under scrutiny include the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Others include the Nigerian Copyright Commission, National Insurance Commission, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, among others.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC-Niger), has expressed frustration over the refusal of several government agencies to appear before the National Assembly for the defense of their 2025 budget proposals.
Speaking during the second day of the revenue profiling exercise, Senator Musa revealed that President Bola Tinubu, while presenting the 2025 budget to the National Assembly, directed all ministers and heads of agencies to defend their budgets before the legislature.
“To our dismay, several agencies have refused to honor our invitations to scrutinize their performance in 2024 and their 2025 projections,” Senator Musa said.
“We are giving these agencies a 48-hour ultimatum to appear before this Joint Committee. Failure to comply will prompt us to recommend to the Appropriation Committee to withhold their allocations.
“For self-funded agencies, we will request the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to suspend their funding.”
The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke (APC-Lagos), emphasized the importance of the budget defense exercise, stating that it aims to boost revenue generation and reduce reliance on borrowing.
“If these agencies refuse to appear before us, the National Assembly will take the necessary actions,” Faleke warned.
In a related move, the Senate has adjourned plenary until January 28, allowing ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to defend their allocations under the N49.7 trillion 2025 Appropriations Bill before relevant committees.
The decision followed a motion moved by Deputy Senate Leader Senator Ashiru Oyelola, which was approved by a voice vote led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
However, lawmakers have vowed to ensure strict accountability in the appropriation process, signaling potential consequences for non-compliant agencies.
