I did not insert N206 billion into my Ministry's Budget -- Sadiya Farouq tells Senate - NEWS FRONTIER DAILY

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Tuesday, November 22, 2022

I did not insert N206 billion into my Ministry's Budget -- Sadiya Farouq tells Senate






 THE Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq told the Senate yesterday that she did know how the N206 billion was inserted into her Ministry's budget by the Ministry of Finance.

Speaking in Abuja when she appeared before the Senator Yusuf Yusuf, All Progressives Congress, APC, Taraba Central led Senate Committee on Special Duties to defend the 2023 Budget, Farouq  claimed that the Ministry requested for some projects for the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and National Social Safety Net Project in 2022 budget which was not released , but the Ministry was surprised that money was  now times 10 in the 2023 Budget of the Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Senate has summoned the Minister of Finance, budget and National Planning,  Zainab Ahmed to come and give explanations on  the N206 billion inserted in the Ministry's  budget.

Trouble started when a member of the Committee,  Senator Elisha Abbo, APC, Adamawa North  asked the Minister about the N206 billion in the budget budget.

Abbo asked the Minister thus, "What programmes do you implement in National Social Safety Nets?


"Few days ago we had a course to summon Minister of Finance when we were considering of the ministry of health and primary health care. We observed N301 billion was inserted in the budget of 2023 which be funded through multilateral and bilateral loans.


"We asked the Minster to give us the details of the activities and projects that will be implemented with this money and he said he wasn't the one that he was not 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."


Responding, he Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,said, "Yes we made mention of the projects for 2022 which 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 10 folds 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.


"On upscaling of the National Social Safety Net Project. These projects under the national social safety nests, the condition cash transfer, the updating of the national social register and the rapid response register as well to cushion the effect of inflation.


"This is all I can say for this. I cannot really give full details of how this amount is going to be utilised because it is something that was negotiated between the ministry of finance and world bank."


Senator Abbo who was shocked by the Ministry's  response said that the country cannot  continue to borrow money and plunge the country into debt,  said, " This is serious. We cannot continue to borrow money and plunge this country into debt for our children to come and pay without investing in what they will see."


The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yusuf Yusuf therefore moved a motion to summon the  Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed to come and give explanations on the N206 billion inserted in the Ministry's  budget.


Senator Yusuf said, " I want to move a motion that the Minster of Finance should appear before this committee to furnish this committee with details of what they intend to do with N206 billion in 2023 budget.


"Now that the Minister has said that she is not in charge of negotiation, of course she is not, the Minister of finance is."


Source: Vanguard

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