The N102 billion financial allotment for the National Agricultural Development Fund’s launch has drawn criticism from stakeholders (NADF).
The fact that the line items under the NADF financial allocation do not address the reason they fought for increased support for the agriculture sector worries them.
At a news conference held over the weekend in Abuja by ActionAid Nigeria, the stakeholders—which included the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), ONE, and the CAADP Non-State Actors Coalition (CNC)—expressed their concerns.
They pointed out that N150 million, or 0.1 percent, of the total N102.5 billion allotted to NADF, is for staff salaries, N350 million, or 0.1 percent, is designated for overhead, and N102 billion, or 99.5 percent, is designated for capital expenditures.
“Over the years, we have advocated for the establishment of an independent fund to facilitate agricultural development in Nigeria, given that the sector’s needs cannot be met by our budget cycle and limited funding,” the groups stated.
Although they applauded the allocation of 28% of the total agriculture budget to NADF, they expressed worry that the fund’s capital and recurring expenditure line items do not correspond with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a food emergency.
While reading aloud from a press release on the analysis of the 2024 agriculture budget, Nana Mercy, the FCT Secretary of SWOFON, identified the areas of concern in the NADF as the N70 million budget for office fittings and partitions in the capital project, the N27.5 million office rent, and the N1.2 billion allocated for the purchase of an office block.
She added that N10 million is included in the recurrent expenditures for the upkeep of the office block and the residential units.
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