- A youth group undertook an analysis of the 2018 Appropriation bill and is not happy with it
- The objective of the analysis was to ascertain federal government’s priority for youth development based on the budget proposal
- Their findings showed that most government agencies did not apply the principles of good budgeting like adequacy, equity, transparency and efficient allocation of resources
The 2018 Budget of the federal government of Nigeria has been subjected to intense scrutiny by a youth-based non-governmental organization.
The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) Centre for Legislative Engagement undertook an analysis of the 2018 Appropriation bill from a youth perspective.
Their findings show that the Nigerian government has not done enough to address the challenges faced by youths in the country.
YIAGA's Executive Director, Samson Itodo, speaking at the press conference earlier today, Tuesday, January 30. Photo credit: YIAGA
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Addressing a press conference in Abuja earlier on Tuesday, January 30, the executive director of YIAGA, Samson Itodo, lamented that the budgets, especially that of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport Development and most government agencies did not apply the principles of good budgeting like adequacy, equity, transparency and efficient allocation of resources.
According to him, the budget as proposed by most of the agencies and the ministry are unrealistic given the magnitude of the youth demography and challenges youth face in Nigeria.
His words: “Most of the expenditure lines are administrative in nature. In other words, priority is placed on procurement of items such as vehicles, computers, furniture fittings, repairs of offices etc.
“In the proposed budget, the ministry introduced too many new projects, which are underfunded and this may lead to incomplete projects thus adding to the growing number of abandoned projects. Details of budget line were not explicit to ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility."
Making reference to the specific needs of the average Nigerian youth, Itodo said “the priority needs of young people in Nigeria include but not limited to gainful employment, education, political participation and representation and sexual reproductive health services.”
NAIJ.com gathered that the objective of the review was to ascertain the following;
1. The federal government’s priority for youth development based on the budget proposal
2. The responsiveness of the 2018 budget to the needs and priorities of young people
3. General Observations and Gaps in the ministry’s budget and
4. Recommendations for a youth responsive budgeting
The approach adopted is mainly a desk review of key social and economic sectors with relatively high responsibilities for youth development in the proposed 2018 budget and a review of policies and macroeconomic plans for youth development in Nigeria.
The sectors reviewed were; agriculture, education, health, industry trade and investment, the National Directorate of Employment, the Social Investment Program and the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
The organisation therefore recommended that:
1. The MDAs adjusts the pattern of allocation to the 70:30 percent rule for recurrent and capital budget respectively, reflecting the policy on public finance management which the federal government has adjusted to
2. New projects within agencies should be reduced to a manageable number that will allow for optimal funding of project and possible completion within the medium term, depending on the size of the project.
3. Projects on entrepreneurship, vocational skills should be adequately funded or left to specific ministries with direct functions such as NDE. There is need to harmonize youth programmes to ensure synergies and reduce duplication - a guideline on responsibility and budget priority for youth within federal agencies should be produced by the minisrty.
4. To avoid duplication, budgets for sporting activities in the ministry and the Nigeria Football Federation should provide details on type, location and target audience. This will ensure a more transparent and efficient allocation of resources.
5. Youth training on leadership is very important. The Citizens and Leadership Centre’s budget should be increased to provide at least 6 zonal leadership programmes yearly. The agency should also reflect it revenue generating capacity within its budget.
.6. Public private partnerships for the provision of entrepreneurship and sporting activities through the relevant agencies should be encouraged and such budgets captured within public funding to ensure accountability
7. The MDA’s should budget separately for youth activities from that of women and children. Since this is an area of intervention that needs strategic approach, it is important that allocations are separated; this will also enable tracking of funds and oversight of budget.
When NAIJ.com asked how YIAGA intend to ensure the campaign is successful, Itodo said the organisation has commenced series of engagements with lawmakers especially the committees in charge of youths, to ensure that the anomalies are corrected.
His word: “We are building a body of knowledge for National Assembly members. We have built a tool kit - a legislative instrument to guide them in enhancing the quality of their work."
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Meanwhile, the statistician general of the federation, Yemi Kale, has said that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has no data on the job creation claims made by Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment.
Ngige had earlier said the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has created seven million jobs through its social investment programmes.
Rotimi Amaechi gives a summary of the Buhari administration on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Wednesday, 31 January 2018