By James Isaac
The National Coordinator of the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Hon. Jabiru Salisu Tsauri, has called for a collaborative effort between the legislature and the executive to ensure the timely passage of the NEPAD Bill. Tsauri emphasized that executive sponsorship of the bill would expedite its passage, enabling the agency to better deliver on its mandate.
During the 2025 budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, led by Senator Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, Tsauri highlighted the operational limitations faced by the agency due to the absence of the bill’s passage into law. He expressed satisfaction with the committee’s support in the 2024 fiscal year but pointed out that the envelope budgeting system hampers the agency’s ability to fully execute its responsibilities.
Senator Daura acknowledged the pivotal role of NEPAD in Africa’s development and urged the coordinator to provide all correspondence with the Ministry of Finance related to securing exemptions from the envelope budget system for the agency’s interventions. The committee also recommended a more comprehensive budget presentation from NEPAD in the future.
Meanwhile,the committee has approved the proposed budget for NEPAD in the 2025 fiscal year, expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to manage its operations effectively under the approved financial plan.