Critical Appraisal of Nigeria’s Fiscal and Budget Management System

Abstract

Budget and fiscal management system is one of the key elements that have a determinative impact on the quality of development process of a nation. This critical role of the system must have informed the painstaking efforts of the present administration in Nigeria to find ways to reform the system, and strengthen its capacity to activate the economy to provide for the developmental needs of the national society. This study is intended as a contribution to this governmental initiative. The general objective is to provide a critical overview of the macro economic framework upon which the national budget and fiscal management process are formulated so as to identify areas of weaknesses which may need reform. The data for the study is collected from government reports and other documents pertaining to national development plans and budgeting process. The study also derived a lot of information from interviews conducted with government officials concerned with fiscal and budget matters. On the whole, the study highlighted that reforming the budget system must be targeted at four major problem areas namely the country's fiscal dependence on oil revenue and its volatility, the external debt overhang, the huge budget deficits and uncontrolled public spending. Reform initiatives are also required on the conduct of the budget process itself, especially in the areas of capacity building for budget personnel, computerization of budget inputs and processes as well as inter institutional linkages and collaboration. Finally, the study recommended the establishment of Federal Stabilisation Fund for oil windfall, aggressive pursuit of debt conversion programme and transparent administration of the budget and fiscal system.