From now on, all public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements and projects must be carried out in strict compliance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) laws and guidelines, the Federal Government has said.
In ‘FGN 2025 Budget Call Circular’, issued by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the government mandated all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure that they align with the provisions of the ICRC Establishment Act (2005) as it relates to PPPs in the preparation and submission of their respective 2025 budget proposals.
The 2025 budget call circular sets out the requirements and instructions that must be satisfied and followed in the preparation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) budget proposal.
The directive as contained in section two of the circular reads: “MDAs are by these guidelines directed to note that the execution of memorandum of understanding (MoU), memorandum of association (MoA) and various contract instruments for PPP arrangements between MDAs and private entities without recourse to the extant provisions of the National Policy on PPPs (N4Ps) and the ICRC is a clear contravention of the law.
“Consequently, any MDA interested in PPP or concession arrangements must act within the ambit of existing laws and policy listed above and ensure alignment with this guideline. “For further information, please contact the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (compliance@icrc.gov.ng)”.
The government urged all ministers, chief executives, accounting officers and other officers responsible for budget preparation to get themselves familiar with the document.
The document directed strict compliance to the guidelines and instructions, including, but not limited to, the revenue and cost optimisation measures.
The document highlighted that the preparation of the budget estimates for MDAs should take into consideration the policies/strategies contained in the 2025 – 2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), which is the FGN’s pre-budget statement.
“All MDAs are to carefully scrutinise and justify their projects and programmes for which resources are to be allocated. In line with the immediate needs of the country as well as the government’s development priorities that align with the policy direction of the new administration, which hinges on national security, the economy, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, power and energy, as well as social safety nets, women and youth empowerment.
“These priorities, and the 2025 budget estimates, MUST be linked to the NDP’s core objectives, which are establishing a strong foundation for a diversified economy, investing in critical physical, financial, digital and innovation infrastructure, building a solid framework and enhancing capacities to strengthen security and ensure good governance; and enabling a vibrant, educated and healthy populace,” it stated.
