Janet Samuel, Abuja
The Senate through its Committee on Finance , has tasked the various revenue generating agencies owned by the Federal Government, to surpass the target of N18.324trillion , set for the 2024 fiscal year as aggregate revenue inflow .
President Bola Tinubu had last month, presented to the joint session of the National Assembly , N27.503trillion as total projected expenditure for 2024 fiscal year , out of which N18.324trillion is set as targeted revenue while N9.18trillion is deficit , to be financed by internal and external borrowings as well as proceeds from privatization .
The Finance Committee chaired by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East, while assessing the preparedness of the agencies ahead of the task, had separate interface with them in the just ended week, telling them not only to meet up with projected revenues targeted for them but surpassed them .
In a meeting on Thursday, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPC), led by its Group Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO), Mele Kyari, Sani Musa tasked them to surpass revenue targeted from them in the 2024 fiscal year .
” It is heartwarming that based on your submission , NNPC Ltd , has within January and October this year , raked in N4.5trillion as revenue and remitted it into federation account .
” But being fully commercialised company now , more of such are needed , particularly in the 2024 fiscal year .
” President Bola Tinubu on his part , in the budget presented to us , clearly demonstrated that deficit budgeting should be eased out by projected less for 2024 ( N9.18trillion ) as against N13.4trillion used for such in the ending 2023 fiscal year .
” This committee in particular , and other relevant standing committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives , would by way of oversight and regular interface with revenue generating agencies , ensure that required revenues are generated for full implementation of the proposals and projections made for the 2024 budget “, he said.
Senator Sani Musa at the sideline of colloquium organized to commemorate the 61st Birthday celebration of President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio last Thursday, also told journalists that N100trillion budget size proposed by the guest speaker at the event , Olisa Agbakoba ( SAN) , was achievable .
” The suggested budget size for 2025 may look big but achievable if all the revenue generating agencies , buckled up and prevent leakages in anyway”, he said .
