Senate faults zero capital, demands accountability as ministers defend fiscal reforms

House of Reps rejects FCSC’s 2026 budget allocation 

The Senate, yesterday, witnessed a lively and tense debate over fiscal discipline, capital project funding, and the nation’s economic trajectory.

This came as top economic managers defended the President Bola Tinubu administration’s fiscal reforms, while lawmakers pressed for greater accountability and prioritisation.

Similarly, the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters rejected the 2026 budget allocation to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) based on the envelope provided by the Ministry of Budget and Planning.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, anchored his defence at the Senate on legality, transparency and disciplined fiscal management.

He argued that the era of uncontrolled money printing and unregulated Ways and Means advances was over, insisting that fiscal discipline would be the foundation of the country’s economic policy.

The minister explained that “funding gaps are now handled through revenue generation and prudent borrowing”, rather than ad hoc money creation.

On the contentious issue of 2025 capital project releases, Edun cautioned against assuming zero disbursements without verification.

“I will leave it to the Accountant General to confirm whether it is zero, because I am not sure that it is in fact zero,” he said.

Edun also highlighted that 2024 saw 100 per cent federation revenue performance — distinguishing it from Federal Government revenue — achieved amid reforms in foreign exchange and petroleum pricing.

He clarified that much of the N152 trillion total debt reflects accounting adjustments rather than fresh borrowing.

Minister of Budget and National Planning Abubakar Bagudu, outlined Nigeria’s vision to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030, stressing the importance of macroeconomic reforms, security, infrastructure, domestic production and inclusive economic planning through a bottom-up approach engaging wards, states and federal agencies.

“A budget under $35 billion will continue to disappoint. It is too small for our needs,” Bagudu said.

The House committee said the FCSC allocation fell below the required budgetary provision that could possibly meet the expectations of Nigerians in the commission’s discharge of its responsibilities. It, thus, asked the budget office of the federation to revisit the allocation for the FCSC, so that it could reflect what it requires to effectively execute its responsibilities.

Chairman of the committee, Sani Bala, disclosed  the position of the panel yesterday during the 2026 budget defence of the commission by its Chairman, Prof Tunji Olaopa, in Abuja.

Bala said the N2.6 billion allocation, of which N1.24 billion covers personnel cost for 2026, would be inadequate for the FCSC to effectively carry out its functions touching on recruitment, promotion and disciplinary control of the civil service and staff appeal.

According to him, the FCSC is an executive body established in the 1999 Constitution under Section 153 and Part 1d of the Third Schedule.

According to him, this constitutional provision highlighted the scope of the power of the FCSC to cover appointment, promotion and disciplinary control of the components of career management of the civil service.
(Guardian)