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The Ministry of Finance on Saturday, 27th September 2025, concluded the FY2026 Bilateral Budget Discussions, with senior officials reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and stakeholder participation in the budget process.
Speaking at the closing, Principal Deputy Financial Secretary Samuel E.B. Momoh said the discussions form part of efforts to ensure openness in budget preparation.
He explained that the Ministry will next proceed to a budget retreat where all figures will be consolidated into the draft budget statement, to be presented to Cabinet and subsequently Parliament for approval.
Director of the Budget Bureau, Tasiima Jah, said this year’s deliberations were aligned with the Big Five Game Changers, the National Development Plan, and the theme of innovative strategies for domestic revenue mobilisation.
He commended Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that submitted budgets within the set ceilings, while stressing that further technical engagements with some MDAs will continue during the retreat.
Jah also thanked members of District Budget Oversight Committees, Non-State Actors, Civil Society Organisations, and the media for their participation, noting that their involvement promotes transparency in the process.
The Ministry of Finance presented a budget estimate of NLe 154,753,000 for its 2026 programmes and activities. Acting Director of the Research and Delivery Division, Alhaji Abu Komeh, outlined key achievements in 2025, including the enactment of the Finance Bill 2025, implementation of the Tax and Duty Exemption Act 2023, and the rollout of systems such as the Electronic Cash Register and Excise Tax Stamp to boost revenue mobilisation.
He also cited the publication of the 2025 Annual Borrowing Plan and debt transparency reports, as well as monitoring progress under the IMF Extended Credit Facility programme and securing US$60 million in direct budget support from the World Bank.
