The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has presented an estimate of N76.586billion (Seventy Six Billion, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Million Naira) as its budget proposal for 2024 to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Crimes.
Olukoyede who spoke on Tuesday when he appeared before the house of representatives committee on financial crimes, to defend the agency’s 2024 budget proposal, asked the House to increase the agency’s N76.586 billion budget proposal for the 2024 financial year.
The EFCC chairman said the anti-graft agency needs more resources to execute its mandates to avoid criticism from Nigerians and the parliament for performing below expectations.
The proposed budget is said to have represents a 53.48% increase over and above the Commission’s 2023 appropriation of N49.901billion (Forty Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and One Million Naira).
According to the document presented to the House Committee on Financial Crimes, chaired by Ginger Obinna during the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget defence, the Commission is also expected to spend N4.247billion on local and international travel.
In the budget estimate, a total sum of N37.074 billion (Thirty Seven Billion, Seventy Four Million Naira) was proposed as personnel cost, N14.513 billion (Fourteen Billion, Five Hundred and Thirteen Million Naira) as overhead cost and N25 billion (Twenty Five Billion Naira) as capital cost.
Presenting the budget to the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, stated that the 2024 proposed estimate of N76.486 billion represented a significant increase over 2023’s N49.901 billion budget owing to additional funds needed for overhead, personnel and capital costs.
“This increase is solely attributable to the increase in personnel cost from N36.834billion to N37.074billion in 2024, overhead cost from N10.535billion to 14.513billion in 2024 and capital cost from N2.531billion to N25 billion in 2024,” he said.
Olukoyede, while commenting on the 2023 budget performance, explained that the sum of N36.835billion was appropriated as the Commission’s personnel cost for the year, “out of this figure, the sum of N28.452billion representing 77% has been released for the payment of salary and allowances of staff on the Commission’s payroll between January and November 2023.
He added that the “the sum of N7.024billion representing 67% of the N10.535 billion appropriated for the Commission for its overhead cost in 2023 has so far been released.”
The EFCC Chairman further stated that the Commission’s request for additional funds for overhead is due to high cost of air travel ticket, motor vehicle fuel cost, diesel cost and high cost of maintenance of buildings, operational vehicles and office equipment in the headquarters and fourteen Zonal Commands.
He appreciated the Committee’s support for the Commission in the discharge of its duties and the successes it is achieving in the fight against economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption.
However, the Chairman, House Committee on Financial crimes, Ginger Obinna stated that financial crimes pose a significant threat to the stability and progress of any economy.
“In recent years, our nation has witnessed a surge in sophisticated financial crimes that demand our immediate attention and robust defense mechanisms. From money laundering to cybercrimes, the challenges are multifaceted and ever-evolving.
“It is our duty to stay ahead of these threats, adapt our strategies and equip ourselves adequately to counteract the forces that seek to undermine our economic wellbeing and that of our nation.”
He stated that the budget’s defence and discussions on issues related to it was a reflection of the Committee’s commitment to creating an environment where citizens can trust the financial institutions that drive the economy and which will empower the EFCC to carry out its vital duty.
“It is a pledge to provide the necessary resources to empower the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to carry out its vital mission effectively,” he added.
