Minister Disowns N206b Inserted In Ministry Of Humanitarian Affairs’ Budget
THE Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has disowned N206billion inserted into her ministry’s budget by the Ministry of Finance.
Farouk, who appeared before the Senate panel on Special Duties to defend next year’s budget for her ministry, claimed that the ministry requested for some projects for the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) and National Social Safety Net Project in this year’s budget, which was not released, but that the ministry was surprised that the money is now times 10 in its next year’s budget.
Trouble started when one of the Committee members, Senator Elisha Abbo, asked the minister about the N206billion in the budget, to which she responded: “Yes, we made mention of the projects for 2022, which was not released and part of it was for the NEDC.
“The money was not released and now we have seen it recurring by almost 10 folds and we are also going to clarify from the Ministry of Finance to know why this increase, despite the fact that the previous year, the money was not even released for the project. So, we will get the details, and then send to you on that.
“On upscalling of the National Social Safety Net Project, these projects are under the national social safety nets, the conditional cash transfer, the updating of the national social register and the rapid response register, as well to cushion the effect of inflation. This is all I can say for this. I cannot really give full details of how this amount is going to be utilised, because it is something that was negotiated between the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.”
However, Abbo, who was shocked by the minister’s response, said the country cannot continue to borrow money and plunge it into debt, noting: “This is serious. We cannot continue to borrow money and plunge this country into debt for our children to come and pay without investing in what they will see.”
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yusuf Yusuf, moved a motion to summon the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to come and give explanation the N206billion inserted in the ministry’s budget.
He stated: “Now that the minister has said that she is not in charge of negotiation, of course, she is not, the minister of finance is.”
