*Capital releases to MDAs stood at N780.28bn
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
The federal government recorded a total of N2.79 trillion oil revenue shortfall in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, realising only N2.45 trillion or 31.87 per cent of the total projection for the quarter in the 2025 Budget.However, non-oil revenue performed better with N5.25 trillion (68.18 per cent), exceeding total projections, buoyed by improved Value Added Tax (VAT), Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), Independent Revenue, and Education Tax (TETFUND) revenue performance.This was disclosed in the Q3 Budget Implementation Report (BIR) for 2025.The reluctance of the relevant authorities to release the BIRs as prescribed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, has been a subject of controversy.In the preface to the Q3 report, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, observed that revenue shortfalls persisted in both oil and non-oil receipts.He said, “Total FG revenue stood at N7.70 trillion, and expenditure reached N8.03 trillion, resulting in a fiscal deficit of N328.57 billion, financed through privatization proceeds and domestic borrowing.“Despite fiscal pressures, the government prioritised capital investment, highlighting the ongoing imperative to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and ensure fiscal sustainability.”The report indicated that aggregate expenditure, which included Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) and Project-tied Loans) totalled N8.03 trillion as against prorated N13.75 trillion.Non-Debt Recurrent Expenditure stood at N2.66 trillion in the review period, while debt service gulped N3.41 trillion, below projection by 4.80 per cent.According to the report, the fiscal deficit for the quarter was N0.33 trillion (below projection), financed mainly through privatisation proceeds and domestic borrowing.
