By Juliet Ezeh
Tensions over budget implementation took centre stage at the National Assembly on Monday as the Senate raised red flags over what it described as shockingly poor releases to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in 2025, even as the minister pushed for a higher allocation in the 2026 fiscal year.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, requested an upward review of the proposed N134.2 billion budget for 2026. She argued that increased domestic funding was critical to addressing mounting social and economic challenges confronting women nationwide.
However, lawmakers shifted focus from next year’s projections to the ministry’s current funding realities, questioning the practicality of increasing allocations when previously approved funds were barely released.
Committee Chairman, Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), made it clear that the Senate’s concern was not about expanding the ministry’s 2026 envelope but about the executive’s failure to implement the 2025 budget effectively.
“We are not against upward review,” Kingibe stated, “but the problem of abysmal releases of funds as reflected in the 2025 budget presentation is a serious concern. That issue must be addressed first.”
According to the minister’s breakdown, of the N89.8 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2025, only N394 million was released and that came in December, too late for utilisation. Similarly, just N471 million was released from the N2.8 billion approved for overhead costs.
The figures triggered broader concerns within the committee about systemic gaps between appropriation and actual cash backing, especially for ministries tasked with delivering social welfare and gender-focused programmes.
For 2026, the ministry’s proposed N134.2 billion budget includes N2.1 billion for personnel costs, N131.2 billion for capital projects, and N810.9 million for overhead expenses. Yet senators indicated that without reforms to the release process, higher allocations could remain largely theoretical.
The exchange highlights an escalating debate within the legislature over fiscal discipline and budget credibility. For lawmakers, the issue extends beyond one ministry it raises questions about the efficiency of public finance management and the federal government’s commitment to funding social development priorities.
As deliberations continue, the Senate’s position signals a shift toward stricter scrutiny of not just budget approvals but actual implementation a move that could reshape future negotiations between ministries and the National Assembly.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.