FG to Borrow 11 trillion for 2023 Budget, to Spend 3 trillion on Fuel Subsidy

The federal government has revealed plans to borrow about N11.3 trillion to fund expenditure in the 2023 budget. Noting that the deficit is projected to exceed 12.41 trillion in 2023 or at least N11.3 trillion, which is more than 100 per cent of the N7.35 trillion deficit in 2022.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, stated this yesterday while presenting the draft 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF&FSP) before the House Committee on Finance.

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On government expenditure, the minister stated that given the constrained fiscal space, the deficit was projected to be N12.41trn in 2023, up from N7.35trn in 2022, representing 196 per cent of total federal government’s revenue of 5.50 per cent of the estimated GDP.

She added that, “This is significantly above the three per cent threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007, and there will be no provision for treasury-funded MDAs capital projects in 2023.

“Scenario two, the federal government’s 2023 aggregate expenditure is estimated at N19.76trn (inclusive of GOEs). In this scenario, the budget deficit is projected to be N11.30trn in 2023 up from N7.35trn in 2022.

“This represents 5.01 per cent of the estimated GDP, above the three per cent threshold stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), 2007”.

On petrol subsidy, Zainab said the government may spend N3.36trn or N6.7trn in 2023. The first scenario, tagged “Business as Usual”, assumes that the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), estimated at N6.72trn for the full year 2023 will remain and be fully provided for.

However, she said the second scenario, tagged “The Reform Scenario”, assumed that petrol subsidy would remain up to mid-2023 based on the 18 months extension announced early 2021.

She explained that, “In which case only N3.36trn will be provided for. Additionally, there will be tighter enforcement of the performance management framework for Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) that will significantly increase operating surplus/dividend remittances in 2023. Both scenarios have implications for net accretion to the Federation Account and projected deficit levels.

“The 2023 federal government revenue is projected at N6.34trn, out of which only N373.17bn or 5.9 per cent comes from oil-related sources. The balance of N5.97trn is to be earned from non-oil sources.

In regards to oil revenues, she stated that despite higher oil prices, oil revenue has been underperforming due to large production shortfalls. She added that NNPC’s deductions of PMS subsidy have also been a significant factor.