FG approves N4tn for development commissions
The Federal Government has approved a sum of N4.26tn as statutory transfers to newly established development commissions for various regions in the country.
The development commissions are, South East Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North West Development Commission.
However, the North East Development Commission was not included.
An analysis of the newly released 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper revealed that the plan was designed to foster growth and infrastructure development across various regions of the country and ensure that each region receives customised support to address its specific developmental needs and priorities.
It also stated that government-owned enterprises would get N2.73tn and grants/donor-funded projects of N711.11bn.
The document read, “The FGN’s 2025 budget estimates its aggregate expenditures at N47.90tn. This includes the GOEs’ expenditures of N2.73tn and grants/donor-funded projects of N711.11bn.
“The proposed 2025 Budget represents 36.6 per cent (or about N12.85tn) higher than the 2024 FGN aggregate expenditure estimate of N35.06tn.
“The 2025 expenditure estimate includes statutory transfers of N4.26tn (this includes provisions for the newly established South East Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North West Development Commission), debt expenditure of N15.81tn (including N430.27bn for the Sinking Fund for retiring maturing bonds issued to local contractors/creditors), and non-debt recurrent expenditure of N14.21tn.”
Earlier this year, the National Assembly approved the creation of the Zonal Development Commissions.
These commissions provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development by President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu had announced the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta and the establishment of a new Ministry of Regional Development at a recent reshuffling to reflect the diverse needs of various regions.
The report further stated that N282.65bn is made afirst-linee deduction for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund statutory transfer. Also, N231.78bn has been set aside in the service-wide votes for GAVI/Routine Immunisation.
