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ABUJA, Nigeria- The National Assembly summoned the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, along with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, regarding the inadequate budget allocation for the Ministry of Solid Minerals in the 2025 fiscal year.
This action by the National Assembly's joint Committee on Solid Minerals came after the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning failed to attend a previous meeting as instructed last Wednesday.
During a budget defense session last week, the committee, led by Senator Sampson Ekong (PDP: Akwa Ibom South), expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed N9 billion capital allocation for the ministry in 2025. Consequently, they refused to consider the budget proposal and mandated the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning to appear before them on Monday.
Bagudu's absence and the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake's, complaints about unsuccessful attempts to increase the N9 billion budget proposal led the committee to include the Budget Office in the summons. The ministers and the DG Budget are expected to appear before the committee at 3 p.m. today.
“Hon Minister, we appreciate your efforts to advocate for an increase in the N9 billion budget proposal for your ministry in 2025, but we are disappointed that no additional funds have been allocated despite these efforts.
“Solid Minerals is a crucial sector for diversifying the nation’s economy. We stated last week that the proposed N9 billion for the ministry in 2025 was grossly inadequate and rejected it, yet we are surprised that the same proposal was presented today.
“Thus, in accordance with the resolution made now, this joint committee continues to reject the N9 billion proposal for the Solid Minerals Ministry and has summoned the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the DG Budget to appear before it tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3 p.m. sharp,” he stated.
Earlier, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, detailed the efforts he made prior to the presentation of the N49.7 trillion 2025 budget to the National Assembly on December 18, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu, and even up to last week, to secure an upward review of the N9 billion allocation for solid minerals without success.
“I met with the president regarding the need for an increase in the N9 billion budget proposal for the Ministry of Solid Minerals, as well as with the Minister of Finance, his counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Director-General of the Budget Office.
“They all provided assurances to review the N9 billion proposal upward, but I am surprised that as I sit before this joint committee, nothing has been done,” he remarked.
Frustrated by the minister’s complaints, committee member Hon. Kama Nkemkanma from Delta State claimed that the 2025 budget represents a budget of sabotage, as critical sectors necessary for driving the economy are severely underfunded.
“The affected ministers and the DG Budget Office must appear before this joint committee as resolved,” he asserted.
