In order to effectively execute the 2024 budget, the federal government’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been increasing their income collection to augment the Consolidated Income Fund (CRF) and meet the predicted revenue.
During a budget defense session with the National Defense College (NDC), Rep. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, issued the challenge.
Rep. Abdullahi requested the college investigate avenues through which it may raise funds for the CRF by charging military officials and other foreign students who attend the college reasonable prices.
He underlined that, given the current reality of declining government income required to cover their budgets, MDAs should concentrate on generating internally generated income (IGR).
He did, however, issue a warning: While financial success is vital, MDAs shouldn’t sacrifice their essential values or principles.
He stated, “The reality of diminishing government income required to support her budget is in accordance with the bottom line of MDAs collecting internally generated income, or IGR.
“This is not just about making money; it’s also about teaching wise use of the portion of your IGR that you are legally allowed to spend, based on whether or not your department receives full government funding.”
He informed the NDC that regular training slots are available at the elite training facility for high-ranking military officials from West African nations, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Germany, and the Philippines.
The senator pointed out that there is nothing stopping the Defense College from charging fees to Nigerian military officers receiving training abroad since they are already paying for it.
Similarly, during a meeting with the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee instructed the Commission to settle their mandate account with the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and deposit into CRF the amounts he described as established financial infractions during the previous three years.
The committee was informed by the NUC’s Deputy Executive Secretary that the only source of its IGR was the rent collected from its properties, of which 25% was sent to the CRF.
Rep. Abdullahi did point out a mistake in the NUC’s choice to send only 25% of its IGR—rather than the full 100% as stated in the most recent circular—into government coffers.
He claimed that Abdullahi declared that 100% of any IGR by NUC must be paid into CRF because NUC is a fully financed government entity.
