NASS wants increase budgetary allocation in Agric Sector, to ensure food security

By Tom Okpe

Joint Committee on Agricultural Production and Services of the National Assembly, Senate and the House of Representatives, have advocated gradual increase in budgetary allocation to agriculture to ensure food security in the country.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, who also doubles as the joint Chairman, Senator Saliu Mustapha made this known at the Committee’s 2025, budget Defence at the National Assembly on Thursday.

He said Nigeria must fund the agricultural sector by allocating more resources to address food insecurity noting that, “the 2025 allocation to the sector was appreciable and a sign that things will get better in no distant future.”

The Chairman further said: “The allocation of about 4.2% of the total budget to the agricultural sector in 2024 was a positive development, at keeping with the commitment Nigeria made in the ‘Maputo Declaration’ to commit at least, 10%.

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“This is a significant improvement for Nigeria’s economy and the future of its agricultural sector.The effort is commendable and the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is called upon to do more.

“In the year 2024, the sector, despite climate change and insecurity in the nation, contributed significantly to the Nigerian’s economy.This is emphasized from the report by the National Bureau of Statistics, which reported an initial growth of 0.18% in the year 2024.

“I assure you of our readiness and commitment to work assiduously and pass the 2025 budget that will reposition the agricultural sector in line with the President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’

“I must commend the effort of Mr President and the executive, on attempt of repositioning the agricultural sector, and concerted effort to return it as the mainstay of the Nigeria’s economy.”

In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Rep Bello Kaoje agreed with the Chairman saying; “the Agricultural sector is key to all sectors of the economy, hence it cannot be ignored.

“The sector needs all attention it deserves to help the country address it’s food security challenges which will spur development.”

Also, a member of the Committee, Senator Adamu Aliero lamented that, Nigeria is yet to meet the allocation of 10 percent of National Budget to agriculture in order to meet the threshold of the Malabo declaration.

He said, “Your co-mandate is to ensure massive production of food for the country. You know very well that in the next eight to ten years, Nigeria is going to be the third largest country in the world in terms of population, after China and India, the next country will be Nigeria.

“With this allocation coming to the agricultural sector, how do we cater for the huge population that is going to come up with this kind of allocation coming to the agricultural sector,” he queried.

Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, presented the Ministry’s proposed 2025 budget estimates saying that the sector needs urgent intervention to contribute its quota to the development of the nation.

“I would like to spell out that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is mandated to ensure food security, employment generation and wealth creation through commodity value chain, agribusiness and rural development activities in the country.

“The 2022 to 2027 National Agriculture Technology and Innovation Policy, NATI, is the guiding tool to drive the process of innovative research system, holistic mechanization drive, rural infrastructure provision and commodity value chain development for economic diversification, livelihood opportunities and income earnings in the country.

“In line with the Presidential priority, the Ministry is acting along the 24 outlined deliverables for youth and women empowerment, food security, economic growth, job creation and poverty eradication.

“The policy direction is to provide enabling environment for public-private partnership for agribusiness undertakings in the country. It is also classified as immediate, short, medium and long terms.Details of these plans are highlighted in the Ministry’s submission before the Committee.”

Giving a highlight of the Ministry’s 2024 budget performance and the 2025 proposed Budget, he said, “The Ministry had a total appropriation of 250,396,8721.9. Focus of the amount was a total appropriation of 250,396,821.9.Naira.

“This comprises of 10,626,015,992 Naira for personnel cost, representing 4.2% of the budget. 1,034,642,376 Naira for overhead cost, representing 0.41% of the budget. And 238,485,350,353 Naira for capital projects and programs, representing 95.24% of the ministry’s budget.

The analysis of the 2024 capital budget appropriation for the main ministry is as follows.The main ministry’s 2024 budget performance is as follows. The 10,626,015,992,000 Naira appropriated for personal cost. Also, the sum of 1,034,642,376 Naira appropriated for over-cost.”

He said the total sum was released and utilized. In the capital cost appropriation of 238,485,350,353 Naira, the sum of 32,952,649,987 Naira has been released to the Ministry, and this amount represents 13.82% of the capital appropriation for the main Ministry.