Rep members propose how to recoup funds for Nigeria’s future

The House of Representatives on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to conserve funds for future generations of Nigeria by increasing earnings and diversification of resources and implementing urgent population control measures.

The House also asked the government to focus on non-oil sectors of the economy by adopting alternative sources of revenue to enable foreign inflow from oil earnings go straight to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) without affecting budget financing.

It further urged the Federal Government to secure approval from the National Assembly before tampering with the country’s savings.

The House of Representatives also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation of the resolutions reached.

The resolutions were sequel to the unanimous adoption at plenary of a motion sponsored by Chinedu Obidigwe from Anambra State.

Moving the motion, Obidigwe expressed worry that the Federal Government had spent over N1.8 trillion on debt servicing in the first five months of 2021, representing approximately 98% of the total revenue generated within the period.

He said this calls for the question of where the country’s savings are; stressing that the Federal Government ought to make conscious and concerted efforts to secure the future of Nigerians.

The lawmaker noted that Nigeria’s SWF is aimed at saving money for future generations; providing stabilisation of funds to defend the economy against commodity (oil) price shocks, and financing badly needed infrastructures.

Obidigwe, however, observed that Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 200 million, ranks 58 in SWF ranking which is four places lower than Angola – an oil-producing African country with a population of 32.87 million as of 2021 and has $3.2 billion in assets.

“We are aware of the significant contrast to other oil producers, a country such as Kuwait with $700 billion “Life After-Oil-Fund”, different from its $41.7 billion foreign reserves and Angola with $3.2 billion in assets both have as of March 2021.

“We are concerned that a country such as Kuwait with a population of 4.2 million people and projected growth of 5.3
million by 2050, has a future fund of $700 billion to cater for their future population whereas Nigeria with an approximate population of over 200 million and an estimated population growth of 401 million people by 2050 has a Future Generations Fund of only $2.5 billion”, he stated.