The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it has
recorded 59 per cent budget performance for 2012.

This was made known by Mr. Stephen Ocheni, Director, Finance
and Accounts, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when the House of Representatives
Committee on Foreign Affairs paid a visit to the ministry last week in Abuja.

Ocheni said that a total of N4.2 billion was appropriated as
capital budget for the ministry’s headquarters, but that a total of N3.2
billion was released, representing 76 per cent.

He also said that a total appropriation of N211 million was
allocated to agencies supervised by the ministry, but that N33 million was
released, representing 16 per cent.

The director added that out of a total appropriation of N3
billion for missions abroad, N708 million was received, representing 38 per
cent.

“The summary of the budget performance for 2012 for Ministry
of Foreign Affairs is as follows:

“For the headquarters we have total appropriation of N4.2
billion.

“Out of this, N690 million was released for the first quarter;
for the second quarter, we have a total of N2.6 billion for ambassadorial
posting.

“Third quarter there is no release at all; then total
release to date is N3.2 billion leaving an outstanding N1.1 billion unreleased
on capital budget for the headquarters.

“That represents 76 per cent of release so far as at
Sept.30.

“For the agencies, total appropriation, N211 million; then
for the total release for the agencies stands at N33 million.

“That leaves an outstanding balance of N177 million
representing 16 per cent.

“Missions – N3 billion is the appropriation then the total
release so far, from first quarter to third quarter, is N708 million.

“This also represents 38 per cent performance.

“On the overall, we have the total performance of capital
release of 59 per cent.

“Overhead release for the ministry as at Sept. 30 is 74 per
cent; then the agencies, 72 per cent.

“Our missions’ overhead is 100 per cent as at today because
the overhead for missions are released half-yearly and the second half for the
year, for the overhead for all our missions, have been released as at last
week, except for personnel.

“Personnel is still at 50 per cent so far.’’

Ocheni added that 75 per cent of budget was received as
personnel cost for the ministry, while 58 per cent was recorded for the
agencies.

“Personnel is handled by the IPPIS in the office of the
Accountant-General of the Federation; for the headquarters, the personnel
release is 75 per cent as at Sept. 30.

“Our agencies are not under the IPPIS, so our percentage performance
of personnel for our agencies stands at 58 per cent.

“Then our missions stood at 50 per cent as at Sept. 30.

Earlier, Mrs. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, Chairperson, House of
Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, reiterated the decision of the
House of Representatives to review the budget release and implementation by the
ministry.

Elendu-Ukeje also reiterated the committee’s resolve to
ensure that areas that posing challenges were addressed.

“In a few weeks you are going to come to the National Assembly
and face us for your budget defence.

“So we want to know what it is that you have done, what it
is that we have appropriated and how far it is that you have accessed those
funds; how much use you have put them to; what have the total releases been and
has it met your expectations and so on.

“Today we decided that as the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
it was imperative that we actually feel your pulse and walk in your shoes for a
couple of hours and understand exactly what the problems are.

“Therefore, we are here to curb wastage and to ensure that
in the area where there is no wastage, we shall put our best foot forward, put
on our persuasive caps and persuade for more appropriation in that sector.

Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Minister of State (II) for Foreign
Affairs, expressed gratitude and reiterated the commitment of the ministry to
project the country’s image positively in the comity of nations.

The House of Representatives already asked for a suspension
of the presentation of the 2013 budget by President Goodluck Jonathan.

It declared last week that it had to first do a review of
the medium-term expenditure pattern ahead of the budget presentation.

There had been allegations by the House of Representatives
that the Ministry of Finance had not released up to 50 per cent of the 2012
budget as claimed.