While the 2025 budget for NOSDRA drew eyebrows, the health council is assured of inclusion in the appropriation law
The House of Representatives committee on environment has raised concerns over the 2025 budget of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), totaling ₦10,000,410,780 billion. The scrutiny occurred during the agency’s budget defense on Thursday in Abuja.
Deputy chairman of the committee, Rep. Terseer Ugbor (APC Benue) criticised the agency’s budget allocation, noting that 98 percent of the proposal is dedicated to personnel costs, which he described as “just paying salaries.” Similarly, Rep.Tolani Shagaya (APC Kwara), questioned the agency’s staff strength, emphasizing that its personnel cost appeared excessively high.
In response, Mr. Babatunde S.O., representing NOSDRA’s finance department, expressed regret that the agency is housed under the ministry of environment rather than the ministry of petroleum. He explained that most of NOSDRA’s staff are technical experts working in hazardous areas, necessitating the high personnel cost.
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The committee also probed NOSDRA’s performance, questioning whether the agency’s interventions have significantly reduced oil spills in the country. Addressing these concerns, NOSDRA Director-General, Mr. Chukwuemeka Woke, stated that the agency plays a leading role in oil spill management in Nigeria. He highlighted its relevance to environmental sustainability and the economy, noting progress in reducing corrosion and human sabotage linked to oil spills.
Committee chairman, Rep. Julius Pondi (PDP Delta), urged NOSDRA to prioritize infrastructure upgrades in oil-producing regions, particularly the replacement of aging pipelines. “NOSDRA needs accurate data on the condition of these pipelines,” he said.
EHCON’s budget woes addressed
Meanwhile, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) received assurances from the committee regarding its inclusion in the 2025 budget. This was revealed during EHCON’s budget defense session on the same day.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Pondi, sympathized with EHCON’s financial plight, acknowledging that its personnel have gone unpaid for 13 months due to federal government directives to discontinue funding for regulatory bodies. “The committee sympathizes with the agency. It is in our interest to get a fair allocation in the budget. We feel very bad for personnel that have worked for 13 months without pay,” Pondi said. He further disclosed ongoing discussions with his senate counterpart and the minister of environment to ensure EHCON is reinstated in the budget.
EHCON’s Registrar and CEO, Dr. Baba Yakubu Mohammed, lamented the absence of an allocation in the proposed 2025 budget. He reiterated that the agency, as mandated by its establishment act, is to receive full funding from the federal government.
He emphasised the agency’s role in licensing and regulating environmental health professionals to ensure compliance with set standards. “The act states that you cannot perform any activity without being registered. We regulate, set standards, and ensure compliance,” he said.
Rep. Clement Jimbo (APC Akwa Ibom), however, sought clarity on the agency’s funding provisions and the utility of its licenses. Mohammed warned that leaving the agency unfunded would risk compromising its officers and undermine its regulatory functions.
Other agencies, including the National Park Service and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), also appeared before the committee to defend their respective budgets.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of Burutu federal constituency, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Rep. Pondi throughout the 10th House here
