News
NASS Passes N7.44trn 2017 Budget
The National Assembly, yesterday, passed the long awaited 2017 Appropriation Bill of N7.441trillion as the lawmakers increased the general budget figure by N3billion.
The National Assembly has also released a breakdown of its 2017 Budget of N125billion, with additional N10 billion to NASS’ 2016 Budget of N115billion.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in December, 2016 presented a budget of N7.289 trillion to the National Assembly but the lawmakers increased the figures to N7.441trillion, indicating about N143billion increase.
Details of the N143 billion increase in the budget figures shows that the National Assembly increased the budgetary allocation of the Amnesty programme (Niger Delta Development Commission) by N10billion while the lawmakers also hiked its own budget by N10billion.
The National Assembly also through the additional allocations in the budget initiated the commencement and completion of the second Abuja airport runway which was not initially in the budget at the cost N10billion, while it also enlarged the budget for road project construction across the country by N25billion.
The budget figures for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) also received more funds as presented by the executive while the lawmakers in this budget initiated the renovation of the Abeokuta Airport construction of the Warri-Aladja railway line, among others.
Details of the budget indicates that out of the N7.441,175,486,758 trillion passed by the National Assembly, N2,177,866,775,867 trillion is for capital projects, while N434,412,950,249 billion is for statutory transfer.
Also, the sum of N1,841,345,727,206 trillion is for debt services, while N177,460,296,707 billion is for sinking fund, just as N2.987,550,033,436 is for recurrent (non debt) expenditure.
The statutory transfer is broken down in the budget by which N100 billion is allocated to the National Judicial Council (NJC), while N64,023,554,666 billion is allocated to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Similarly, N95,189,395,583 billion was allocated to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), while National Assembly allocated to itself the sum of N125 billion, even as the public complaint commission got N4 billion.
While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) got N45billion, the National Human Rights Commission got N1,2000,000,000 billion.
The lawmakers budgeted N1,488,002,436,547 trillion is for domestic debt services, while N175,882,993,952 is for foreign debt services, making a total of N1,663,885,430,499.
On the personnel aspect of the recurrent expenditure, the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation was allocated N 2,693,253,521 billion, while Ministry of Budget and National Planning was allocated N8,843,198,998 billion, and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was allocated N31,752,144,051 billion for personnel expenditure.
Also, the Ministry of Defence was allocated N330,543,309,223 billion, while the Federal Ministry of Education got an allocation of N398,686,819,418 billion, even as the Federal Ministry of Environment was allocated N16,108,983,841billion for personnel expenditure.
The Federal Ministry of Finance was allocated N9,521,555,393 billion, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was allocated N56,424,094,037billion, and the Federal Ministry of Health was allocated N252,854,396,662billion, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment got N10,797,165,779 billion for personnel expenditure.
Also, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture was allocated N40,821,093,321billion, while Federal Ministry of Interior was allocated N472,597,817,561billion, and the Federal Ministry of Justice got N21,038,344,711billion, even as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment got N8,626,186,611billion for personnel expenditure.
The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development got N10,385,055,182 billion, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta got N1,764,382,365 billion, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources got N63,222,101,051billion, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology got N27,785,074,208 billion, the Federal Ministry of Transportation got N14,810,103,581billion for personnel expenditure.
In the same vein, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources was allocated N7,301,176,944 billion, while the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs was allocated N1,466,534,201billion, and the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing got N32,821,929,055billion, and the
Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development got N89,316,015,167billion for personnel expenditure.
While the Fiscal Responsibility Commission was allocated N332,848,038billion, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) got N5,159,640,131billion, and the Infrastructure Concessionary and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) got N884,624,464billion, and the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology got N11,192,782,734billion, just as the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission was allocated N631,503,868 billion for personnel expenditure.
Also, the Office of the National Security Adviser got N76,281,025,653billion, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was allocated N6,652,280,969billion, and the State House was allocated N22,947,666,215 and the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) got N51,933,366,906billion for personnel expenditure.
In the Capital Supplementation, a total Allocation of N310,037,229,460 billion was approved, of which the GIFMIS/IPPIS Capital budget is N5billion, while OSSAP- SDGs (Special Projects) got N9billion, and OSSAP-SDGs (Conditional Grants) is N10billion, just as OSSAP-SDGs (Social Safety Nets) is N15,902,000,000 billion, Capital Exigencies/Adjustment to Capital Cost N5billion.
The National Development Plans (Ministry of Budget and National Planning)N 1,000,000,000, Head of Service (Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board) 1,000,000,000, Zonal Intervention Projects N100,000,000,000, North-East Intervention Fund N45,000,000,000, Counterpart Funding Including Global Fund/Health 3,500,000,000.
Also, the Payment of Local Contractors’ Debts/Other Liabilities had N20,000,000,000, Galaxy Backbone had N4,000,000,000 Contingency (Capital) N10,000,000,000, Recapitalisation of Development Finance Institutions N15,000,000,000.
Subscriptions to Shares in International Organisations N28,635,229,460, SDG: Special Intervention Project N1 12,000,000,000, SDG: Special Intervention Project N2 8,000,000,000, Facilities and Technical Services N14,500,000,000.
Implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and Establishment of Delivery Unit at the Presidency hot N2,500,000,000, while the total Capital Supplementation is N310,037,229,460, and the Capital in FGN Special Intervention Programme is N150,000,000,000.
Just before the passage of the bill, the Lawmakers commended the committee and the entire red chamber for coming up with a detailed Appropriation Bill; the first of it’s kind since 1999.
Speaking earlier on the generality of the Budget, Senate Minority leader Godswill Akpabio commended the senate for doing a thorough job.
The Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBE) has trained 1,000 newly recruited teachers with a view to raising standards in public primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
The two-day orientation and capacity building programme held in Port Harcourt introduced the teachers to civil service rules, classroom management practices, and professional conduct expected of educators in the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, told the newly recruited teachers that teaching demands more than academic qualifications, and called for discipline, diligence, and a strong commitment to service.
He described teaching as a noble profession that is central to the development of the state.
The recruitment, he said, reflects the government’s investment in children and long-term development.
“Education is the foundation of societal progress, and basic education is where that foundation is laid,” Nwagor stated.
He urged the teachers to shape the values and character of pupils during their most formative years.
He pledged continued support from the Ministry of Education through training, resources, and an environment that allows teachers to perform effectively.
Nwagor directed RSUBEB to reject transfer requests from rural to urban schools, saying the newly employed teachers have an obligation to serve where they are posted and help strengthen education in those communities.
In his opening remarks, the RSUBEB Chairman, Hon. Sam Oge, explained that the recruitment process began in 2023 under the previous board, adding that after assuming office, he consulted widely and secured Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s approval to complete the exercise.
Oge said the selection was competitive, with 1,000 candidates chosen from more than 5,000 applicants, and urged the teachers to treat the opportunity seriously and avoid lobbying for reposting.
He directed the teachers to resume at their assigned schools immediately, saying request for reposting will not be entertained.
The former RSUBEB Chairman, Ven. Dr. Fyneface Akah, who delivered the keynote address, described the orientation as the teachers’ formal entry into the civil service.
He urged them to be creative, purposeful, and open to learning on the job.
Akah stressed that teachers have a role in restoring values lost to moral decline, and urged them to model national values and see their work as a calling with lasting impact on the society.
He thanked the State Government for approving the recruitment, noting that the exercise will improve access to quality basic education across the State.
Akujobi Amadi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that no fewer than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps will be deployed for the 2027 general elections.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Olakunle Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, headquarters of the scheme, in Abuja.
Amupitan, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Adedayo Oketola, described the meeting with the NYSC senior management team as more than a formal courtesy visit, saying it was also a mission of gratitude.
According to him, the NYSC remains a critical pillar in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He noted that corps members had participated in virtually every election cycle since 1999, stressing that, “INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.
“As the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I am honoured to discuss our collaborative efforts toward ensuring seamless and credible elections in Nigeria.
“You provide the heartbeat of our field operations. When we speak of election manpower, we are essentially speaking of corps members.
“They are the most dedicated, educated and patriotic election duty staff we have, and their presence at polling units brings a level of neutrality and public confidence that is irreplaceable.
“They form the backbone of our election processes, especially as ad hoc staff, whose dedication, discipline and patriotism are critical to the success of our elections,” he added.
Amupitan said institutional data from the 2023 general election showed the importance of the partnership between INEC and the NYSC.
He explained that INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff for the 2023 elections, with over 70 per cent, nearly 850,000 personnel drawn from corps members and student volunteers.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 elections, the INEC chairman said more than 1.4 million ad hoc staff would be engaged, with corps members making up the majority.
“For the 2027 general election, we will require 707,384 ad hoc staff for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
“The same number will be needed for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027, making a total of 1,414,768,” he said.
He added that INEC would also require 52,446 corps members for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as by-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.
Amupitan said corps members accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers in many states during previous elections.
“These young Nigerians did not just facilitate voting; they protected the sanctity of the ballot in 176,846 polling units across some of the most difficult terrains in the country,” he said.
He further praised the corps members for their role in off-cycle elections, particularly the Anambra governorship election and the FCT Area Council polls.
According to him, their digital proficiency contributed significantly to the seamless operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
“In those exercises, it was the digital proficiency of corps members that ensured the seamless performance of our BVAS, proving they are the tech-savvy backbone of our modern democracy,” he added.
Amupitan acknowledged the sacrifices made by corps members during elections and assured that INEC would continue to work with the NYSC and security agencies to strengthen safety measures and welfare packages for them.
As the 2027 general election approaches, we are committed to ensuring adequate mobilisation and preparedness of NYSC members for this important national assignment,” he said.
He also noted that the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, scheduled for June 20 and August 15, respectively, alongside several by-elections, would serve as tests for innovations ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding, Brig. Gen. Nafiu thanked INEC for its continued collaboration with the scheme.
He recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding between both organisations was signed in 2011 and had been periodically renewed.
Nafiu described corps members as credible, reliable and easily trainable manpower.
“The last batch of millennials will soon exit the scheme, leaving behind Gen Z corps members known for their digital savviness, which will benefit INEC,” he said.
He assured the commission of the NYSC’s continued support in both the 2027 general elections and upcoming off-cycle elections.
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