FG seeks N4.89tn loan to fund 2022 budget

The Federal Government has announced plans to fund its 2022 budget deficit with N4.89 trillion external and domestic loans.

This is contained in the 2022-2024 medium-term expenditure framework/ fiscal strategy paper (MTEF/FSP), approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, , Zainab Ahmed, told journalists at the end of the FEC meeting that the FG’s projected budget deficit for 2022 is N5.62 trillion, up from N5.60 trillion in 2021.

She said the deficit would be financed by fresh local and international loans as well as other sources.

“This amount represents 3.05 per cent of the estimated GDP, which is slightly above the three per cent threshold that is specified in the Fiscal Responsibility Act,” she said.

The minister also said, “The FRA empowers Mr President to exceed the threshold in his opinion, the nation faces national security threats. And it is our opinion on fact agreed that we can exceed.

“The deficit is going to be financed by new foreign borrowing and domestic borrowing, both domestic and foreign in the sum of N4.89 trillion on privatisation proceeds of N90.73 billion and drawdowns from existing project tied loans of N635 billion.”

She noted that the projected debt to revenue ratio in the report is 43 per cent.

The minister said, “We know Nigerians all have concerns about the actual debt to revenue ratio in 2019 was 58 per cent. So, this is an improvement over the preceding 2019. In 2020, the ratio was up to 85 per cent. So 2022 is a significant improvement.”

Ahmed said the FEC approved an aggregate of N13.98 trillion, which is three per cent higher than the 2021 budget for expenditure.

“We have also presented to the Federal Government the projected revenues for 2022 to 2024. Specifically for 2022, the revenue that we expect is N6.54 trillion and 2.62 trillion to accrue to the federation account on VAT, respectively,” she added.

The FG in 2020 also exceeded three per cent fiscal borrowing threshold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.