A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, has challenged Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to emulate the impressive budget performance of the Ministry of Interior.
According to Nwauju, the embattled Rivers State APC Spokesperson, the Interior Ministry’s bottom-to-top approach to budget implementation has yielded remarkable results, surpassing its internally generated revenue (IGR) target of N2 billion for the 2024 budget.
The Ministry’s achievements are attributed to its value delivery strategy, which prioritizes needs assessment and people-centered policies.
The approach, he said, has not only eliminated wastages but also enabled the Ministry to remit over N5.6 billion to the federal purse in the 2024 fiscal year.
In a remarkable feat, the Ministry completed various multibillion-naira contracts despite having zero capital allocation. This achievement is a testament to the Ministry’s efficient management of resources and its commitment to delivering value to Nigerians.
The APC spokesperson praised the hard work of Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, and urged other heads of MDAs to follow his example.
“The Interior Ministry’s budget performance is a shining example of what can be achieved with prudent management of resources and a commitment to delivering value to Nigerians,” Nwauju said.
The APC also called on Nigerians to take a keen interest in the budgeting system and track the implementation of budgets to ensure value for taxpayers’ money.
“It is essential for Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable for the management of public resources,” Nwauju added.
Furthermore, Nwauju emphasized the importance of increasing the allocation to the Interior Ministry in the 2025 budget, given its strategic role in internal security and its impressive performance in the 2024 fiscal year. “The Interior Ministry plays a critical role in maintaining internal security, and its allocation should reflect its importance,” Nwauju said.
The APC believes that collaboration between the National Assembly and the Ministry will be crucial in achieving this goal. “We call on the National Assembly to work with the Interior Ministry to ensure that its allocation is increased in the 2025 budget,” Nwauju said.
