Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (NMCO) has been recognized for its achievements, earning a reputation as a leading government agency in innovation and digitalization in Nigeria.
The Director-General of NMCO, Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, called for greater support from the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals Development to aid the agency in fulfilling its core mandates.
He made this appeal during the committee’s oversight visit to NMCO on Tuesday in Abuja.
Engr. Nkom highlighted that NMCO had been shortlisted for top awards, alongside agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission.
He noted, “The Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office was honored with multiple awards, which motivates us to continue our efforts and further improve our operations.”
Addressing funding concerns, Engr. Nkom emphasized the need for increased budgetary allocation, stating, “Our current budget is considerably low. For instance, the 2024 budget allocates 277 million for personnel costs, covered through the Ministry of Finance.
“Our overhead stands at 273 million, totaling 550 million for both overhead and personnel. Our capital budget, which includes 40% allocated for constituency projects, is 510 million. This brings our total appropriation for 2024 to 1.06 billion, compared to 750 million last year.”
He expressed concerns over potential challenges due to limited resources and concluded by thanking the committee for their attention and ongoing support.
In response, the Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Jonathan Gaza, acknowledged the funding disparity. “It is surprising that an agency generating over 8 billion Naira annually receives an appropriation of just 1 billion. This calls for a reassessment,” he remarked.
Chairman Gaza emphasized that with better equipment, enhanced training, and improved supervision of the mining licensing process, NMCO could significantly boost its revenue. He advised proactive measures such as sending out demand notices and taking initiative beyond just advertising annual returns.
“It is crucial that staff are well incentivized to prevent unethical practices within the agency, such as unauthorized license approvals. Proper incentives ensure integrity and deter exploitation of the system, especially when critical data on available mining sites is at stake,” Gaza added.
He concluded by reiterating the importance of oversight and pledged support for increased funding in the 2025 budget to strengthen NMCO’s operations and capabilities.
