NASS Applauds Interior Minister, Tunji-Ojo over 2024 budget performance
…As Ministry proposes N6bn for 2025 budget
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on Interior, on Wednesday, applauded the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo over the 2024 budget performance of the Ministry.
The Joint Committees gave the commendation on Wednesday, when the Minister appeared in National Assembly to defend the 2025 budget of the Ministry.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo told the lawmakers during the session that the Ministry’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) exceeded its target In the 2024 budget.
He said, “In 2024, we had a revenue target as approved by the National Assembly of N1.2bn for business expatriates quotas and naturalisation. But what we were able to generate was N4,508,306,968.5”.
The Minister explained that the increase in the IGR was not as a result of the increased in expatriates quota revenue, noting that a lot of key sectors within the Ministry came alive in the last financial year.
He attributed the increase to some measures adopted by the Ministry to close linkages via zero remittances and a full automated of solutions.
According to him, it was the automation of these solutions that closed some of the linkages which made the revenue to shoot up.
The Minister further stated that the total target for 2024 was N2bn, adding that in the actual sense it was able to generate over N5bn in the year under review.
Impressed with the budget performance, the lawmakers, who could not hide their satisfaction, commended the Minister for a job well done, with he committee chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole taking the lead.
“Honourable Minister you have done extremely well. I think you have been detailed, I have attended some other budget defence and I can’t recall anyone as extremely detailed as you did.
“We have seen what you have done in 2024, we expect you to do more in 2025 knowing that you have a lot of energy.
“Now you have made your presentation and I believe we are very satisfied with your explanation. If there are more questions, like you said after this budget session, we can have a special session to discuss further”, Oshiomhole said.
Meanwhile, the Minister proposed a total of N6,683,463,175 for the 2025 budget, with the breakdown of Personnel, 1,692,410,481; Overhead,1,159,879,666 and Capital, 3,831,173.58.
