- Senators warn poor funding is weakening committee operations and oversight duties.
- Lawmakers fault unpaid 2024 and 2025 budgets threatening single budget implementation.
- Senate moves into closed session amid growing funding concerns.
Some senators on Friday raised concerns over inadequate funding, warning that poor financial support is undermining the operations of Senate standing committees and effective budget implementation.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the concerns were expressed during a meeting between the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola APC Ogun West, and chairmen of various Senate standing committees.
Raising the issue first, Senator Anthony Ani APC Ebonyi South disclosed that the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission has not received any allocation since its inauguration.
Ani said the lack of funds has made it impossible for the committee to engage relevant agencies or discharge its oversight responsibilities.
“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 South East Development Commission that I belong to does not have money to organise a meeting with any agency due to zero allocation since formation and inauguration,” he said.
He added that available information indicated that other Senate committees overseeing zonal development commissions were also yet to receive funding, questioning how they could function effectively without financial backing.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam APC Benue North West, warned that the enthusiasm surrounding the creation of the commissions could turn into disappointment.
“Lack of funding for the Committees on Zonal Development Commissions in the Senate is gradually turning excitement that heralded them into disappointment and even into lamentation,” Zam said.
Expanding the discussion to budget implementation, the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Oyewunmi Olalere PDP Osun West, expressed concern over delayed payments and overlapping budget cycles.
He said the planned single budget implementation was under threat, noting that parts of the 2024 capital budget remained unpaid, alongside outstanding components of the 2025 budget.
“The promise on single budget implementation from April 1st this year is being threatened, because parts of the capital component of the 2024 budget in terms of contracts execution are not paid yet, not to talk of the 30 percent capital component of the 2025 budget expected to expire by the 31st of March,” Olalere said.
He warned that with January nearly over, urgent action was required to clear outstanding obligations and prevent multiple budget implementations.
Supporting the position, Senator Francis Fadaunsi APC Osun East said unpaid contractors from the 2024 budget were still protesting.
“The 2024 budget debt has not been paid,” he said, stressing the need for decisive engagement before April 1, 2026.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole APC Edo North urged his colleagues to exercise patience until full details of the ₦58.472 trillion 2026 budget are presented.
Following his intervention, Senator Adeola called for an executive session and asked journalists to excuse themselves from the meeting.
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