“Single Budget Implementation Is Under Threat” — Senate Leaders Cite Unpaid 2024 And 2025 Capital Projects

Some senators have raised the alarm over what they described as a paucity of funds, which has adversely affected the functioning of standing committees and the implementation of budgets.

The senators raised the concerns on Friday during a meeting between Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West), who led the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and chairmen of the various standing committees.

The first to speak was Senator Anthony Ani (APC, Ebonyi South), who declared that since the inauguration of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, not a dime has been released to the committee to enable it function.

He said, “Mr Chairman, you have read out the timetable to be followed by the various committees for consideration of the 2026 budget, but the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, which I belong to, does not have money to organise a meeting with any agency due to zero allocation since its formation and inauguration.”

According to him, based on credible information, other Senate committees on zonal development commissions are yet to be funded, wondering how such committees can function.

In the same vein, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam (APC, Benue North West), said the excitement that followed the creation of the commission should not be allowed to turn into lamentation.

He said, “Lack of funding for the committees on zonal development commissions in the Senate is gradually turning the excitement that heralded them into disappointment and even lamentation.”

Extending the concerns to poor and multiple budget implementation, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Oyewunmi Olalere (PDP, Osun West), admonished the Appropriations Committee to be proactive in ensuring revenue-generating agencies live up to expectations for effective budget funding.

He said, “The promise of single budget implementation from April 1 this year is being threatened because parts of the capital component of the 2024 budget, in terms of contract execution, have not been paid, not to talk of the 30 per cent capital component of the 2025 budget expected to expire by March 31.

“Today, Friday, is January 30, which means only two months are left to clear the leftovers of the 2024 and 2025 budgets to pave the way for the promised single budget implementation from April 1, 2026.

“Mr Chairman, a lot needs to be done between now and next month by your committee and critical stakeholders to prevent the continuation of multiple budget implementations.”

On his part, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadaunsi (APC, Osun East), who expressed similar concerns, urged the committee to convey the gravity of the funding challenges to relevant authorities, noting that the 2024 budget debt remains unpaid.

He said, “I concur with my colleague from our state on the yet-to-be-fully-implemented 2024 budget because the affected unpaid contractors are still carrying placards around. This committee must reach out to critical stakeholders for the required tidying up of the 2024 and 2025 budgets before April 1, 2026.”

In his contribution, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) urged his colleagues to exercise patience until full details of the N58.472 trillion 2026 budget are made available.

Following Oshiomhole’s intervention, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Adeola, called for an executive session, asking journalists to excuse themselves.

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