The Senator, representing Kano Central senatorial district, and the Deputy Minority whip, under the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has called for the trashing of the envelope system, adding that it is actually limiting.
He lamented that what the MDAs are getting as a result of the envelope system is not enough to run the organisations and bring about infrastructural developments.
The envelope system of budgeting, is one in which a certain amount is assigned to an organisation to be expended for the year. Once an envelope is empty, you can’t spend any more money until your new budget period begins.
Speaking with Journalists on Monday on the sidelines of the 2025 budget defense/presentation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), currently on-going at the National Assembly, Senator Hanga emphasized that the envelope system isn’t the best practice.
The lawmaker said the best system is to allow the MDAs to present their proposed budget for the year, while the National Assembly carefully looks at them.
According to him, in doing so, the lawmakers will review the previous budget to see the level of performance and then look at the present one, saying, “And then you interrogate it thoroughly, scrutinise it, give your opinion, and then pass it or you don’t”.
Senator Hanga said the National Assembly is at liberty to either add or deduct the budgetary allocations brought before it by any agency.
He stated “Some government agencies who have not had vehicles for 15 years, and no provision was given to them in the envelope, how can they buy vehicles for the organization when the budget given to them cannot buy all the vehicles needed for the year.
“The envelope system should be discarded completely. It’s not good. It’s wrong. It’s not correct. It’s a selfish agenda”.
“Of course, for example, Nigerians are hungry and you want food for the people. You want to encourage agriculture, and you are giving an envelope to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security that cannot provide food for more than two states. How can they feed the people?”
When asked if the envelope system could be a control measure, he said: “No, that is not the way to control spending. Envelope system of budgetary allocations is not a way to control spending. The only way to control spending is to look into the budget carefully.
“The budget is normally Overhead and Capital. They will bring the list of their staff and their grade lelevels and we’ll know how much is required per annual.
“Even the Capital, every project and their cost will be noted and determined in terms of costs. Yes, we want this or that. It’s okay, you need them or no, you don’t need them. That’s how to go, but the envelope system only restricts you to what you have been given”.
Speaking about the NIDAR bill he sponsored that has scaled second reading, Hanga said that the establishment of the institute was informed by the high record of substance abuse in Nigeria.
He said that substance abuse was a significant public health concern that affected individuals, families and communities worldwide.
“Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation, is not exempted from this global epidemic.
“The country faces numerous challenges in combating substance abuse, but with the right strategies and a public health approach, Nigeria can address this issue and improve the overall well-being of its citizens”.
Hanga said the objectives of the bill was to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking; conduct research and collate data to develop effective strategies for drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation.
He said it was also to promote national efforts aimed at preventing drug abuse and facilitating rehabilitation of drug users; collaborate with relevant agencies to curb the production, trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs.
