Writing By BASHIR M; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation has rejected the 2025 budget proposal of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, citing inadequate funding under the envelope system.
The Minister of Information, Muhammad Idris Malagi, accompanied by the Director-Generals of agencies under the ministry, attended the budget defense and presented an 8.9 billion naira proposal as stipulated by the envelope system.
Earlier, the Minister outlined a series of activities the ministry had undertaken and planned to carry out in collaboration with other ministers to inform Nigerians about government programmes and policies aimed at enhancing their socio-economic well-being.
However, shortly after presenting the ministry’s budgetary provisions, Senator Natasha Akpoti, Senator Abdul Ningi, and others raised concerns, stating that the budget was inadequate given the ministry’s responsibilities and the public’s expectations for effective sensitization on government programmes and policies.
The majority of the committee members argued that the budgetary provisions were too small, necessitating a review for an upward adjustment.
Senator Natasha Akpoti, representing Kogi Central, stated that given the scope and intensity of the ministry’s responsibilities in shaping public perception both within Nigeria and internationally, the proposed N8.9 billion budget is insufficient to achieve the government’s desired objectives.
She cited a comparative example with the South African government, which, despite having a smaller population than Nigeria, allocated over 409 billion naira to a similar ministry. She therefore proposed an upward review of the budget.
Senator Abdul Ningi commended the Minister for his objective approach to carrying out his duties despite opposition perspectives and acknowledged the commendable improvement in the activities of stations such as NTA.
He emphasized that the committee was willing to support the improvement of other agencies under the ministry to enable them to compete with private stations.
He noted that no government function can succeed without well-equipped government agencies, as information is key to such success.
The Vice Chairman of the committee,Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, expressed his belief that the budgetary provision was insufficient given the ministry’s expected responsibilities in raising public awareness about numerous government programmes and policies aimed at combating criminality.
He noted that despite efforts last year to increase the ministry’s budget through standard procedures, the attempt failed.
However, this time, the committee resolved to reject the current budget proposal with the intention of inviting the Minister of Budget for further discussions on increasing the ministry’s budgetary provisions.
This motion was seconded by Senator Natasha Akpoti.
Meanwhile, the committee chairman, Senator Kenneth Eze, urged the ministry and its agencies to intensify efforts in improving internally generated revenue to ensure the government can fund them more efficiently.
Cov Bashir M
