By David Odama
Total budgetary allocation appropriated for the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in 2024, has jumped from N6.5 billion to N78.5billion in the 2025 budgetary proposal due to counterpart funding
The wide gap of N71billion between total budgetary allocation for the ministry in 2024 and the proposal made for 2025 fiscal year as explained by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, arose from the N68billion counterpart funding provided for the World Bank project.
Hajia Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who gave the explanation to members of the National Assembly joint Committee on Women Affairs on Friday during budget defence session for 2025 fiscal year, said N7.4billion is the sum earmarked for core capital projects of the ministry in 2025.
“Total budgetary allocation proposed for the ministry in 2025 is N78.5billion as against N6.5billion appropriated in 2024 fiscal year.
“The wide gap in the budgetary allocation, arose from N68billion counterpart funding meant for world bank project to be executed by the ministry.
“The ministry aside the N68billion counterpart funding, has its own proposal of N7.4billion for core capital projects in the fiscal year.
“N2.6billion is proposed for personnel cost while N810million is proposed for overhead cost,” she said.
However, the minister in her presentation on performance of the N6.5billion 2024 budget, lamented that only 18% of N4.6billion capital votes , was released which is N869.8million but added that N1.3billion appropriated for personnel cost in 2024 and N565.8million appropriated for overhead costs , were got 100% implementation.
Being new in the ministry, the Senator Ireti Kingibe and Hon. Kafilat Ogbara-led joint committee, urged her to study the terrain thoroughly and correct any observed lapses.
They commended the ministry for generating over N4million as internally generated revenue in 2024, which according to them, has never happened before.
Specifically, Hon. Ogbara in her remarks, said: “This committee appreciates your presentation and passion to take the Ministry to greater heights. Please, study all the records at your disposal to correct any observed lapses in the past.”