Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, has announced that the 2025 budget for State House agencies will be developed based on a comprehensive needs assessment. This approach aims to ensure that funds allocated to these agencies align with their actual requirements, enhancing the efficiency of government spending.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday after a one-day fact-finding tour of several government agencies under the supervision of the State House, Gbajabiamila highlighted the importance of prioritizing resources given their limited nature.
“In any country in the world, resources are limited. For us, it is about prioritizing. Where are we so far? What have the agencies done? How have they measured up to their mandates, and how important are their mandates in terms of the vision of this administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda?” he explained.
Gbajabiamila noted that many agencies are currently underfunded, prompting discussions on whether to merge or scrap certain entities—though he clarified that this does not pertain to State House agencies. “In 2025, we are not going to budget in a vacuum. We will budget based on needs assessment,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a more strategic allocation of resources.
During separate meetings with the heads and staff of these agencies, the Chief of Staff pledged that the Presidency would work to improve the welfare and working conditions of staff within the agencies under State House supervision. He encouraged agency staff to embrace innovation, excellence, and professionalism, and to support their leaders in achieving success.
Gbajabiamila also underscored the importance of transparency in the procurement process, a critical component in upholding the administration’s commitment to good governance and accountability.
The agencies visited during the tour included the Nigeria Agriculture and Land Development Agency (NALDA), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
Gbajabiamila was accompanied on the tour by Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, Deputy Chief of Staff; Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary of the State House; and Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff).
This initiative reflects the administration’s broader effort to ensure that government agencies are effectively funded and aligned with the national development agenda.
