HOW N206 BILLION WAS HIDDEN IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS' BUDGET

The N206 billion added into the ministry's 2023 budget estimates has been denied by Sadiya Umar Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development.

In a budget defense meeting with the Senate Committee on Special Duties on Monday, Farouq stated that her ministry was shocked that the sum, intended to carry out projects for the North East Development Commission (NEDC), was included in the budget after a similar request in 2022 was denied.

Senator Elisha Abbo, a committee member, had questioned Farouq about the N206 billion that the ministry planned to borrow from the budget.

He stated: "In 2023, you intend to borrow N206 billion for some projects. What are the projects to be implemented and are they captured in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework?

"If they are, what are the specific project locations and activities?"

In her response, the minister said: "Yes, we made mention of the projects for 2022, part of it was for the North East Development Commission (NEDC). The money was not released and now we have seen it recurring by almost 10 folds.

"We are also going to clarify from the ministry of finance to know why this increase in spite of the fact that the previous year, the money was not even released for the projects. So, we will get the details, then send it to you."

As a result, the committee decided to call Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget, and national planning, to offer an explanation over the N206 billion after the chairman, Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf, moved in that direction.