Use of Service-Wide-Vote (Contingency Budget) for National Development: Evidence from Federal Ministries, Departments And Agencies in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the use of service-wide-vote (Nigeria’s contingency budget) for national development. Documentary pieces of evidence have shown that the Federal government of Nigeria through its MDAs has grossly short-changed Nigerians through the year-in-year-out mismanagement of the service-wide-vote. The objective of this study is therefore, to evaluate the extent to which Federal MDAs in Nigeria have been able to use the service-wide-vote to achieve national developmental objectives. To what extent has the service-wide-vote been used to develop the Nigerian Nation? In order to provide an answer to the foregoing question, primary sources, scholarly journals and reputable online and library sources were used to obtain research materials.  The study revealed that federal MDAs and even the EFCC abused the service-wide-vote to the tune of over N4.17 trillion between 2004 and 2018 due to non-compliance with rules governing the use of the vote and this made it difficult for the national developmental objectives of the vote to be achieved. The following recommendations were therefore, suggested by the paper: allocation of 5 percent of the annual budget to service-wide-vote, regular replenishment of releases from the service-wide-vote, obtaining approval from the National Assembly before releasing funds from the vote, roll over of unspent funds, prosecution of corrupt MDA officials and avoiding those sharp practices that will make the use of the service-wide-vote ineffective in achieving national developmental objectives.

Keywords: Federal MDAs, National Development and Service-wide-vote

DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-10-06

Publication date:May 31^st 2019