By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions has directed all institutions under its oversight to submit evidence of their internally generated revenue (IGR) within 24 hours.
The resolution was reached during a budget defence session with the relevant agencies.
The Committee Chairman, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, warned that the 2026 budget defence of any institution that fails to comply would be suspended.
“Budget defence is a universal practice in all democracies where ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) present their budget proposals to the legislature for scrutiny and approval,” he said.
Akinlade stressed that budget defence should not be treated as a routine annual exercise, but as a critical process with direct implications for the welfare of Nigerians.
“We expect agencies to speak freely. We are representatives and partners in progress, all working towards making our country better,” he added.
The Committee expects agencies to justify their budget proposals by providing details on the implementation of the 2025 budget as well as the projections and priorities contained in their 2026 estimates. This includes providing evidence of their IGR.
The Committee expressed concern over the non-release of capital funds to the agencies in 2025. According to Akinlade,
“The capital released to these agencies was zero throughout 2025, and this has significantly affected their performance.”
The Committee appealed to the Executive to ensure that capital funds are adequately released to enable these institutions to function effectively. This would enable them to implement their budget plans and achieve their objectives.
The request for IGR records is part of the Committee’s oversight function to ensure that agencies are generating and utilizing their revenue effectively. The Committee wants to understand how agencies are contributing to their own revenue generation and how they plan to increase their IGR in the future.
The institutions have been given a 24-hour ultimatum to comply, and those that fail to do so may face consequences in their 2026 budget defence.
