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Tag: Budget Allocation

  • 2025 Budget: Labour Minister Seeks Budget Boost for National Skills Development Initiative

    2025 Budget: Labour Minister Seeks Budget Boost for National Skills Development Initiative

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has called for an urgent increase in budgetary allocation, stating that the current N46 billion allocation falls short of achieving the ministry’s ambitious employment generation targets for 2025.

    In a decisive move to address Nigeria’s mounting unemployment challenges, Dingyadi presented his case before both the House Committee and Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced funding to revitalize skills development centers nationwide.

    “The current allocation simply cannot support our vision for sustainable employment generation,” Dingyadi declared during the 2025 Budget Defence meetings in Abuja. “We’re looking at a comprehensive overhaul of our skills development infrastructure, which requires substantial investment.”

    The Minister’s appeal aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions job creation as a cornerstone of economic revival. Dingyadi highlighted a crucial distinction in employment strategies, noting that while infrastructure projects create immediate jobs, these positions are predominantly temporary and unskilled.

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    “Over 60% of infrastructure-related employment opportunities are unsustainable,” the Minister explained. “Our focus must shift toward creating skilled positions that offer long-term career prospects and contribute to national economic growth.”

    Senator Diket Planning, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour, and Productivity, voiced support for the Ministry’s request, acknowledging the need for increased funding to achieve its mandate effectively.

    The initiative has gained additional backing from Hon. Adefarati Adegboyega, Chairman of the House Committee on Employment, who emphasized the superiority of sustainable employment programs over temporary relief measures.

    “Palliatives offer momentary respite, but skill development creates lasting solutions,” Adegboyega stated. “We must invest in programs that equip our youth with practical skills for the modern job market.”

    The Ministry’s proposed budget would facilitate the renovation and modernization of skills development centers across Nigeria, providing essential training and starter packs for graduates to establish self-sustaining businesses.

    Industry experts suggest this approach could significantly impact Nigeria’s unemployment rate, currently one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. The focus on skills development aligns with global best practices in workforce development and economic growth strategies.

    As budget discussions continue, the outcome of this funding request could determine the trajectory of Nigeria’s employment landscape for years to come, particularly affecting the nation’s youth population seeking sustainable career opportunities.

  • Fire Service Budget Defense Halted Amid Discrepancies, Lawmakers Demand Transparency

    Fire Service Budget Defense Halted Amid Discrepancies, Lawmakers Demand Transparency

    The Federal Fire Service (FFS) faced a significant setback Friday when the National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior abruptly halted its budget defense session. Lawmakers committee, co-chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and House of Representatives counterpart Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, expressed deep concern over glaring discrepancies in the agency’s 2025 budget proposal and its 2024 performance.

    “What you wrote contradicts what you are saying, and we hold you to your written statements,” Oshiomhole declared, highlighting a particularly alarming issue: the inconsistent pricing of firefighting trucks. Identical trucks, procured from the same company, were listed at vastly different prices – ₦1.5 billion in one instance and ₦2.5 billion in another.

    While FFS Controller General Jaji Abdulganiyu Idris attributed these discrepancies to variations in tanker sizes, lawmakers remained unconvinced. “This appears to be over-padding or over-invoicing,” Oshiomhole asserted, emphasizing the need for detailed explanations and supporting documentation.

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    The committee also raised serious concerns about ongoing projects, criticizing the lack of clear specifications and contractual commitments. The FFS 2025 budget proposal included a staggering ₦603 billion in projected outstanding payments, leaving lawmakers perplexed by the lack of clarity on these commitments.

    “We need to appreciate the difference between contract commitments and proposals,” Oshiomhole stressed. “Without proper documentation, this committee cannot approve your budget.”

    He emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, reminding the agency that “every ₦10 lost by MDAs, when multiplied across all agencies, becomes an alarming figure. We must ensure that the little drawn is properly distributed so that every Nigerian gets a sip, especially the poor.”

    Furthermore, the committee questioned the FFS’s ability to accurately report its revenue generation. Idris presented manual receipts as evidence, which the committee swiftly rejected as insufficient. Lawmakers demanded verifiable bank statements and supporting documentation from the Accountant-General’s office.

    Frustrated by the numerous discrepancies and the lack of transparency, the committee ultimately halted the budget defense session. “Work on your documents and submit a proper presentation to this committee,” Oshiomhole warned. “Otherwise, there will be zero allocation for the agency.”

    This incident underscores the lawmakers’ commitment to fiscal transparency and the efficient use of public funds. It serves as a stark reminder that public trust in government spending hinges on accountability and the responsible use of taxpayer money.