NASS queries NEPAD over 2025 budget discrepancies
By Comfort Chukwukelue
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD has queried the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD over discrepancies in its 2025 budget performance.
Despite the query, the committee approved the agency’s 2025 performance and its N9.52bn budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year.
The approval followed a joint budget defence session on Wednesday, where lawmakers scrutinised the agency’s financial records and implementation claims.
Trouble started when the committee questioned the agency’s claim of “nil utilisation” despite a reported 24 per cent capital release.
Lawmakers pointed to several budget lines showing partial spending, including N15m out of N50m, N19m out of N300m, N22.5m out of N75m, and N60m out of N200m, insisting the figures proved that funds were utilised.
Responding, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Hon. Jabiru Tsauri, explained that the 24 per cent was an administrative release under a 30 per cent tranche agreement between the Executive and the National Assembly.
He, however, noted that the release was not fully backed by cash.
Tsauri disclosed that the agency had written to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation regarding a six per cent shortfall and other funding gaps hindering project execution.
Unsatisfied, the committee ordered the agency to submit all supporting documents, including correspondence and letters of instruction relating to capital releases, within 48 hours.
The lawmakers also flagged vague descriptions in several zonal intervention projects in the 2026 proposal, noting that some items lacked specific locations and detailed breakdowns.
The agency was subsequently directed to revise and resubmit the proposal with clearer project details to ensure transparency.
On the issue of federal character, a review of the agency’s nominal roll indicated imbalances in staff representation.
While Tsauri argued that postings were managed by the Office of the Head of Service, the agency’s Human Resources representative admitted that full compliance had not been achieved.
The committee reminded the agency that adherence to the federal character principle remained mandatory for all government institutions.
Meanwhile, the committee expressed support for a bill seeking to grant NEPAD full commission status to empower it to independently recruit and manage personnel.
The 2026 budget approved for the agency comprises N328.6m for personnel costs, N549.8m for overhead, and N8.64bn for capital projects.
Speaking with journalists after the session, Tsauri said, “We are accountable to the people of Nigeria through the National Assembly. I am satisfied that our 2025 budget performance and 2026 proposal have received endorsement.”
He added that funding delays remained a systemic challenge, noting that “without releases, budgets cannot be implemented as planned.”
