The Federal Government spent a total of N6.46tn on debt servicing and workers in 2020, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has said.
She also disclosed that the government released a total of N1.8tn for capital projects within the year. She noted that out of this, up to N118.37bn was released for COVID-19 capital expenditure.
Ahmed spoke virtually while presenting the 2021 Federal Government approved budget.
Providing updates on the 2020 budget implementation, the minister stated that as at year end 2020, the Federal Government’s retained revenue was N3.94tn, 73 per cent of target.
She said the Federal Government’s share of oil revenues was N1.52tn, representing 157 per cent performance, over and above the prorated sum in the revised 2020 budget, while non-oil tax revenues totaled N1.28tn, 79 per cent of revised target.
On the expenditure side, she said N9.97tn was appropriated, excluding GOEs and project-tied loans, while N10.08tn representing 101 per cent was spent.
Ahmed said, “Of the expenditure, N3.27tn was for debt service and N3.19tn for personnel cost, including pensions.
“As at year end 2020, N1.80tn had been released for capital expenditure, that is, about 89 per cent of the provision for capital.”
She said the Nigerian economy was becoming less dependent on oil, as contributions from the oil sector in funding the 2021 budget would be just 30 per cent.
Ahmed said the bulk of the funding sources for the 2021 budget, 70 per cent, would come from the non-oil sector.
Providing an overview of the revenue framework for 2021, the minister said the aggregate revenue available to fund the 2021 budget was projected at N7.99tn, 36.9 per cent higher than the 2020 projection of N5.84tn.
