Farouq can’t explain how N206b was ‘inserted’ by Finance Ministry
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq says she does not know how N206 billion was inserted into her ministry’s budget by the Ministry of Finance.
She made the declaration when she appeared before the Senate Special Duties Committee, chaired by Yusuf Yusuf.
Farouq told the lawmakers the ministry requested for money for some projects for the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and National Social Safety Net Project in the 2022 budget, which was not released, but the ministry was surprised that the money is increased 10 times in the 2023 budget of the ministry.
Committee member Elisha Abbo (APC, Adamawa North) had asked her about the N206 billion in the budget.
“What programmes do you implement in National Social Safety Nets?” he asked.
“[A] few days ago we had cause to summon the Minister of Finance, [Zainab Ahmed], when we were considering the Ministry of Health and primary health care.”
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Acquiring more loans
“We observed N301 billion was inserted in the budget of 2023 which will be funded through multilateral and bilateral loans,” Abbo said, per Vanguard.
“We asked the Minister to give us the details of the activities and projects that will be implemented with this money and she said she wasn’t the one … that it was the Ministry of Finance.
“In 2023, you intend to borrow N206 billion for this same project. What are the projects to be implemented in that. Is it captured in MTEF. If it is, are the specific project location activities attached to this?”
Farouq said: “Yes, we made mention of the projects for 2022 which [money] was not released and part of it was part for the NEDC.
“The money was not released and now we have seen it recurring by almost tenfold 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 then send to you on that.”