Defence, Education Police Affairs, Health, Works Get Lion’ Share Of N13Trn Budget
Defence, Education, Police Affairs, Health, Interior, and Works & Housing Ministries received the lion’s share of the proposed N13.08 trillion budget for 2021, submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly on Thursday for approval.
The Defence Ministry received the highest recurrent expenditure of N840.56bn in the 2021 Budget tagged ‘Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience’.
Education and Health Ministries got N672.1bn and N512.21bn, respectively, as total budget for 2021 (recurrent and capital expenditures); Police Affairs Ministry (N545.10bn for recurrent), and Works and Housing Ministry was allocated N404 billion for capital expenditure.
President Buhari told the legislators that the budget was aimed at accelerating the pace of Nigeria’s economic recovery process, promote social inclusion and strengthen the resilience of the economy.
He added that the budget would also promote economic diversification, enhance competitiveness and ensure social inclusion.
He noted the Ministry of Education’s capital project was increased by 65 per cent to improve the education of Nigerian children, adding that funds have been provided for scholarship awards to Nigerian students at home and abroad.
Of the total N672.1bn budget for Education, N545.1bn was allocated to recurrent and N127bn to capital expenditure.
He stated that the country still face the existential challenge of coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath, stressing that the development has provided a justification to exceed the threshold as provided for by the Appropriation Bill.
He added that N484.49bn was provided for statutory transfers in the 2021 Budget, representing an increase of N56.46bn or 13 per cent, over the revised 2020 provision.
The President said, “The beneficiaries of the statutory transfers are the Niger Delta Development Commission, (N63.51bn); the North East Development Commission, (N29.70bn); National Judicial Council, (N110bn) and the Universal Basic Education Commission, (N70bn).
“Others are the Independent National Electoral Commission (N40bn), National Assembly, (N128bn), Public Complaints Commission, (N5.2bn), Human Rights Commission, N3bn, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund of N35.03bn.”
He further noted, “In our efforts to enhance national security and human capital development, a major part of the 2021 recurrent cost estimate is allocated to paying salaries and overheads in MDAs providing the critical public services.
“These include, N227.02bn for the Ministry of Interior, N441.39bn for the Ministry of Police Affairs, N545.10 bn for Ministry of Education, N840.56bn for Ministry of Defence, and N380.21 bn for Ministry of Health.
“Personnel cost is still our largest single item of expenditure. In the seven months to 31st July 2020, it accounted for 34 per cent of total Federal Government spending and is projected at 33 per cent of 2021 expenditure.
“To check the incidence of payments to non-existent personnel and unauthorised allowances, only federal staff that have been captured on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System platform will receive salaries.
“All agencies have been directed to ensure that they obtain all necessary approvals before embarking on any fresh recruitment. Any breach of these directives will be severely sanctioned.”
The President also said N3.76 trillion was budgeted for personnel/labour cost while N501.19 billion was earmarked for pension gratuity and retirees’ benefits.
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