Senate Clarifies Funding Challenges
The Senate has dismissed claims that it is financially incapacitated, emphasizing that the funding challenges faced by some of its standing and oversight committees reflect a broader fiscal strain across governance structures rather than a breakdown within the National Assembly. This clarification came in response to growing concerns raised by several senators over what they described as inadequate funding for Senate committees, particularly those overseeing newly established zonal development commissions.
Reacting to these developments, Senate spokesman and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, stated that reports suggesting Senate committees were broke were premature and not supported by facts. He explained that many of these committees had only recently been formed and had not yet briefed the Senate leadership on their operations. Adaramodu added that the upcoming budget session would provide clarity on whether these committees face any issues.
He noted that most of the development commissions were created after the 2025 budget had already been passed, making it unrealistic to expect immediate large-scale funding. Adaramodu pointed out that the North-East Development Commission was an exception, but even this commission could not begin to complain about funding at this stage.
Adaramodu also highlighted that the Federal Government had made provisions for the basic operations of the new bodies. He stated that if these commissions were coming into existence after the budget and the government was funding staffing, accommodation, running, and other overheads, it meant that the government had done well for them.
Another key point raised by Adaramodu was that development commissions could not embark on programs or projects without legislative approval. He emphasized that before these commissions could initiate any program or project, it needed to be sanctioned by the oversight committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Once approved, the committees would need to report back to the Senate as a whole, which would then take the issue up during the budget session.
Broader Budgetary Pressures
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, stated that the funding difficulties confronting Senate committees mirrored the broader budgetary pressures facing the country. He noted that the problem was not restricted to one sector or arm of government, with a funding crisis affecting all facets of governance in Nigeria.
This sentiment was echoed during a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and chairmen of various standing committees ahead of deliberations on the 2026 budget. Several lawmakers warned that inadequate funding of Senate committees was undermining effective oversight and threatening proper implementation of the national budget.
Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) led the complaints, stating that the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission had not received any funds since its inauguration. He questioned how the committee could function effectively without any allocation.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission, Titus Zam (Benue North West), warned that the initial excitement surrounding the creation of the commissions was fading. He expressed concern that lack of funding was turning the excitement into disappointment and lamentation.
Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Lere Oyewunmi (Osun West), extended the concerns to weak and overlapping budget implementation, urging stronger oversight of revenue-generating agencies. He highlighted the threat to the promise of single budget implementation from April 1, 2026, due to unpaid contracts from the 2024 budget.
Francis Adenigba Fadaunsi (Osun East) concurred with his colleague, noting that liabilities from the 2024 budget remained unsettled. He urged the committee to reach out to critical stakeholders to tidy up the 2024 and 2025 budgets before April 1, 2026.
However, Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) urged restraint, advising lawmakers to await full details of the proposed N58.472tn 2026 budget. Following his intervention, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), called for an executive session and asked journalists to excuse the lawmakers.
