President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s determination to restore the Federal Government’s authority wherever it is under threat, as part of broader efforts to stabilize the economy.
This disclosure was made by Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, during the commencement of the training for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the preparation of the 2025 budget using the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System – Budget Preparation Subsystem (GIFMIS-BPS).
Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Yakubu emphasized President Tinubu’s commitment to mobilizing resources to expand the economy, focusing on human capital development and economic reforms. The President is firmly dedicated to fostering efficient resource allocation, addressing multi-dimensional poverty, and enhancing Nigeria’s infrastructure, which would reduce the cost of doing business and attract investments into the country.
Yakubu highlighted the considerable fiscal challenges the Tinubu administration is facing. Nigeria’s economy, he said is strained by insecurity, and limited resources. These factors have compounded efforts to reverse the economic decline, intensifying the need for a more efficient and targeted budgeting process.
“Our economy is under immense pressure from various directions: a volatile global market, suppressed oil revenues, rising debt servicing costs, and threatened primary production processes. In light of these pressing challenges, it has never been more critical for us to ensure that our budget is both focused and efficient,” Yakubu said.
The Director-General stressed that the 2025 budget must reflect strategic decisions to optimize resource allocation. He said priorities would center on enhancing national security, which is essential to fostering capital accumulation and sustaining investor confidence, and empowering the citizens through effective mobilization and the efficient deployment of development resources will also be key focuses of the new budget.
Yakubu further urged the MDAs to consider their roles critically as they participate in the budget process. He emphasized the importance of aligning budget proposals with national priorities and ensuring that the 2025 budget is robust, focused, and purpose-driven.
“The executive budget proposals must be coherent and purpose-driven, embodying the government’s vision for security and development. You hold the vital responsibility of transforming government priorities into actionable programs and projects,” he noted.
The training session, centered on the use of the GIFMIS Budget Preparation Subsystem, aims to equip MDAs with the tools necessary to enhance budgetary processes through the use of technology. This system is designed to improve efficiency, eliminate bottlenecks, and promote accountability within the budget preparation and execution phases.
Yakubu urged participants to use the opportunity to engage actively in the training, share their insights, and foster stronger collaboration across MDAs to ensure a seamless and efficient budget preparation process.
He encouraged participants to meticulously review their budget submissions to ensure they align with the overarching goals of the government, particularly the economic functions of producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services. He also highlighted the importance of adhering to the 2025 Budget Call Circular to avoid avoidable mistakes during budget preparation.
For clarity, Yakubu noted that one of the training modules would emphasize key sections of the 2025 Budget Call Circular, guiding MDAs on critical points to focus on while preparing their budgets. In a bid to further support MDAs during the process, he confirmed that the Budget Office Helpdesk is running at full capacity to address all queries and assist budget officers.
Yakubu reinforced the administration’s belief in the power of technology to strengthen Nigeria’s economic foundations, promote social justice, and solidify the credibility of the country’s democratic institutions. He reiterated that this training session marks a crucial step in ensuring that the 2025 budget reflects the government’s vision of a secure, prosperous, and equitable Nigeria.
The GIFMIS-BPS training provides a critical platform for MDAs to harness information technology to streamline budget processes, enhance accountability, and deliver on the government’s commitment to economic reform. With fiscal challenges mounting, this year’s budget process is expected to be pivotal in shaping Nigeria’s path toward economic recovery and sustainable development.
As Nigeria looks to 2025, the focus remains on achieving security, economic stability, and human capital development all while navigating the ongoing fiscal and security challenges. President Tinubu’s administration has set its sights on delivering a budget that reflects these priorities, ensuring that resources are strategically allocated for maximum impact.
This training program for MDAs is just one of the many steps being taken by the government to ensure that Nigeria’s budget is well-prepared, aligns with the national agenda, and serves the needs of its citizens effectively.
