Nigeria TV Info

Nigerian Senate Decries Envelope Budgeting, Non-Release of Capital Allocation to Security Agencies

The Senate has expressed strong concern over what it described as the continued use of envelope budgeting and the failure to release approved capital funds meant for the country’s security agencies.

During plenary, lawmakers warned that the budgeting method—where agencies receive lump-sum allocations without detailed breakdowns—undermines transparency, accountability, and effective oversight of public spending. Senators argued that the practice makes it difficult to track how funds are utilized, especially in critical sectors such as national security.

The upper chamber also raised alarm over the delayed or outright non-release of capital allocations already approved for security institutions. Lawmakers noted that such delays weaken operational capacity, hinder procurement of vital equipment, and slow infrastructure upgrades needed to combat growing security challenges.

Several senators emphasized that while recurrent expenditures such as salaries are often released promptly, capital funds—intended for logistics, technology, and operational expansion—remain stalled. They warned that this imbalance could significantly affect the country’s ability to respond to emerging threats.

The Senate called on the executive arm of government and relevant financial authorities to immediately release all approved capital funds and ensure future budgetary processes are more transparent and performance-driven. It also urged stricter monitoring mechanisms to ensure appropriated funds are utilized for their intended purposes.

Lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening fiscal discipline and improving oversight to ensure that public resources effectively support national security and development priorities.