Nigerian Senate Advocates Increased Funding for Fiscal Responsibility Commission

The Nigerian Senate has pledged to adequately fund government agencies performing critical watchdog roles, emphasizing that underfunding must no longer weaken their operations.

Senate Committee on Finance Chairman, Mohammed Sani Musa, made this commitment during the Fiscal Responsibility Commission’s (FRC) 2025 budget defense on Monday in Abuja. Speaking to Commission Chairman Victor Muruako, Musa lamented the commission's persistent underfunding since its establishment in 2007, citing the "budget envelope" concept as a significant barrier to its efficiency.

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission was created by parliamentary act in 2007 to “promote a transparent and accountable government financial management framework for Nigeria.” However, Musa highlighted that the FRC’s 2025 budget would undergo thorough parliamentary review to address its funding challenges.

“You are not funded very well,” Musa stated. “You are just like the watchdog of all those agencies that generate revenue. You mainly look at revenue and remittances, and honestly, Mr. Chairman, I will commend you because you’ve been up and doing.”

He continued, “We will do our best to ensure the authorities reconsider your budget starting from 2025. This is the first time I’ve had a full picture of your agency’s operations.”

Musa also pointed to the need for legislative amendments to the FRC Act to strengthen its mandate, noting, “I have written a letter to the Senate President regarding the abysmal funding of the Commission, and I hope it will be passed to the Appropriation Committee soon.”

Earlier in his report, Commission Chairman Victor Muruako explained that limited resources severely hinder the enforcement of remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). He noted that the Commission's N1.6 billion 2025 budget is grossly insufficient for the scope of its work and called on lawmakers to reevaluate the institution's finances.

Other Committee members, including Senator Abdul Ningi of the Bauchi Central Senatorial District, supported revising the FRC budget and advocated for amendments to the Act. They emphasized the importance of enhancing accountability, transparency, and compliance in managing public finances, particularly for government-owned enterprises.