- Federal government agencies, including the National Defence College, are urged to enhance revenue generation by exploring appropriate fees for services
- The House of Representatives Finance Committee emphasizes the importance of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for budget implementation and financial prudence
In a bid to bolster the implementation of the 2024 budget, federal government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are tasked with enhancing their revenue generation. The Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rep. Sa’idu Musa Abdullahi, presented this challenge during a budget defence session with the National Defence College (NDC).
Addressing the National Defence College, Rep. Abdullahi encouraged MDAs to explore revenue avenues, suggesting that appropriate fees be charged for military officers and other patrons from outside Nigeria. The emphasis is on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), aligning with dwindling government funds for budgetary allocations.
While underscoring the importance of revenue generation, Rep. Abdullahi cautioned MDAs against compromising standards or deviating from their core mandates.
He emphasized, “Earning IGR is not just about making money; it’s about judicious expenditure within the limits set by law, depending on whether your Department is fully funded by the government.”
Highlighting the international scope of the National Defence College, Rep. Abdullahi noted that military personnel from West African countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Germany, and the Philippines undergo regular training at the elite institution. He suggested that a similar approach could be applied to trainees from outside Nigeria if Nigerian military officers are charged fees for training abroad.
In another session with the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Finance Committee Deputy Chairman directed the Commission to reconcile its mandate account with the Fiscal Responsibility Commission. This reconciliation includes addressing established financial infractions over the past three years and remitting the appropriate funds into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
The Deputy Executive Secretary of NUC informed the committee that their sole IGR source is rent payments on properties, of which 25% is remitted to the CRF. Rep. Abdullahi, however, pointed out an error in NUC’s decision to remit only 25% of its IGR, insisting that, as a fully funded government agency, 100% of any IGR by NUC must be paid into the CRF.