The National Assembly joint committee on interior has commended the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over the 2024 budget performance of the ministry.

The joint committee gave the commendation on Wednesday when Mr Tunji-Ojo appeared to defend the 2025 budget of the ministry.

Mr Tunji-Ojo told the lawmakers during the session that the ministry’s internally generated revenue (IGR) exceeded its target In the 2024 budget.

“In 2024, we had a revenue target as approved by the national assembly of N1.2 billion for business expatriates quotas and naturalisation but what we were able to generate was N4,508,306,968.5.”

The minister explained that the increase in the IGR was not due to the increase in expatriate quota revenue, noting that many key sectors within the ministry came alive in the last financial year.

He attributed the increase to some measures adopted by the ministry to close leakages through zero remittances and fully automated solutions.

According to him, it was the automation of these solutions that closed some of the leakages that made the revenue shoot up.

Impressed with the budget performance, the lawmakers, who could not hide their satisfaction, commended the minister for a job well done, with the committee chairman, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, taking the lead.

Mr Oshiomhole said, “Minister, you have done extremely well. I think you have been detailed. I have attended some other budget defences, and I can’t recall anyone as detailed as you.

“We have seen what you have done in 2024; we expect you to do more in 2025, knowing that you have a lot of energy.

“Now you have made your presentation and I believe we are very satisfied with your explanations.

“If there are more questions, like you said after this budget session, we can have a special session to discuss further,” Mr Oshiomhole said.

(NAN)