The Nigerian House of Representatives is pushing to significantly increase funding for the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in the 2025 Appropriation Bill, Deputy Spokesman Rep. Philip Agbese announced Monday. The move, lawmakers argue, aims to strengthen national security, modernise data systems, and empower youth amid escalating economic and security challenges.
For millions of Nigerians, these allocations could mean safer communities, streamlined public services, and renewed opportunities for graduates. “We cannot build a robust national data system without empowering NIMC,” Agbese told journalists in Abuja, stressing that the agency’s work underpins everything from social welfare programs to anti-terrorism efforts. With only 59% of Nigerians currently registered with NIMC (per World Bank 2023 data), the funding could fast-track digital inclusion and curb identity fraud.
Key Allocations and Rationale
- NIMC: Aims to expand Nigeria’s national identity database, which is critical for combating insecurity and improving tax collection.
- NYSC: Funding to preserve the “ideals of national unity” and equip youth with skills amid rising unemployment.
- NDA: Enhanced capacity-building to counter evolving threats, including terrorism and cyberattacks.
“At a time when terrorists are adopting new strategies despite the gallantry of our troops, we must devise means to outsmart them,” Agbese said, linking the NDA’s funding to Nigeria’s fight against insurgency. The Academy has trained over 90% of Nigeria’s military officers since 1964, but ageing infrastructure and outdated curricula have hampered its effectiveness.
Agbese acknowledged that Nigeria’s current “envelope budget system” fails to meet agencies’ capital needs. Beyond the three flagship institutions, the House also plans to boost funding for foreign missions and the Ministry of Aviation to strengthen diplomatic ties and air travel safety.
The announcement follows a 22% decline in capital expenditure between 2023 and 2024, per BudgIT Nigeria, squeezing critical sectors. Critics, however, warn that without transparent oversight, increased budgets risk mismanagement.
Agbese urged Nigerians to “stay hopeful,” pledging that the National Assembly and Federal Government are “committed to making life more enjoyable for all citizens in the shortest possible time.” Yet, with inflation at 33.95% and 63% of citizens living in multidimensional poverty (NBS 2024), scepticism persists.
Nigeria’s push mirrors regional trends: Ghana and Kenya recently raised defence and digital ID budgets to counter similar challenges. For NIMC, success hinges on bridging gaps in rural registration—a task requiring not just funds but community trust.
As one Abuja-based policy analyst noted, “Data is the new oil. If NIMC delivers, Nigeria could unlock billions in revenue and security gains.”
The House aims to finalise the budget by Q4 2024. For now, the promise of progress offers a fragile lifeline to a nation in search of solutions.
