National Assembly Wants More Funding For FERMA

The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has commended the agency for the promptness and improved quality of federal road maintenance across Nigeria.

The lawmakers also assured FERMA of continued collaboration to “ensure improved funding” and enhanced performance in maintaining federal roads nationwide.

The commendation came during the agency’s defence of its 2025 budget implementation and presentation of its 2026 budget proposal before the committee.

Presenting the proposal, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, disclosed that the proposed 2026 budget stands at ₦229.99 billion.

Of this, ₦191.47 billion is earmarked for capital expenditure, which includes the rollover of 70 percent of ongoing 2025 projects into 2026.

A total of 336 projects have been rolled over, comprising 291 road projects and 75 non-road projects such as streetlights and related infrastructure.

Goronyo noted that 70 percent funding for these projects, amounting to ₦91.47 billion, has been included in the 2026 fiscal plan.

He emphasized that project distribution cuts across all states to ensure equitable infrastructure development. Personnel costs are projected at ₦5.06 billion, while overhead expenditure is estimated at ₦33.47 billion.

While affirming FERMA’s technical capacity, the minister identified inadequate funding as the agency’s primary constraint.

He also stressed the need to harmonize budget cycles with procurement processes to enable contractors to fully utilize the dry season for timely project delivery.

Goronyo appealed to lawmakers for sustained legislative support to strengthen FERMA’s operational capacity.

He referenced the repeal of the 5 per cent user charge on petrol and diesel under the 2017 FERMA Amendment Act, which was replaced with a 5 percent fossil fuel surcharge under the new Tax Act, expressing optimism that FERMA would benefit from the 2025 National Tax Act revenue distribution template.

In response, Chairman of the Senate Committee on FERMA, Senator Sahabi Alhaji Yau (Zamfara North), underscored the strategic importance of road infrastructure to Nigeria’s economic development.

“Roads are the bridge between rural agricultural productivity and urban markets. Once they fail, food inflation rises and our misery index deepens,” he said, describing strategic road maintenance as a social investment in security, employment, and economic stability.

Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on FERMA, Aremi Oseni, commended the agency for the quality of work and standards observed during oversight visits.

End.