The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh has on Tuesday hinted on the need for adequate budgetary allocation to be able to meet up with the demands and obligations in relation to the expanded scope and mandate of the ministry.
Engr. Momoh dropped the hint while presenting the ministry’s 2025 budget proposal before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Regional Development at the National Assembly.
The Senate Committee on Regional Development is chaired by Senator Olajide Ipinsagba while Hon. Eugene Ekechukwu Dibiagwu chairs that of House of Representatives.
Engr. Momoh, alongside the Minister of State Hon. Uba Maigari Ahmed and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Tinuke Watti led the management team of the ministry to the budget defence, also presented the 2024 budget performance of the ministry.
In his presentation, the Minister stated that the Ministry has been assigned to “coordinate the activities of the Regional Development Commissions, Community Development Partners, and assistance from States and Local Governments; all aimed at restoring peace and economic prosperity in the regions.”
Speaking further, the Minister disclosed that the ministry’s proposed budget for 2025 totals N28.9 billion, comprising:
N24 billion for capital projects,
N2.7 billion for personnel costs, and
N1.6 billion for recurrent expenditure.
Engr. Momoh expressed concern over the inadequacy of the proposed budget, stating that it falls short of addressing the developmental needs of the five regional development commissions under the ministry’s supervision.
He highlighted the challenges faced by the ministry due to inadequate funding, leading to abandoned and uncompleted projects, delays in project completion, as well as poor project performance.
The minister told the committee that the 2025 budget proposal, though still reflects ministry of Niger Delta Development, has made provision in areas of youths development and capacity building, medical outreach program in rural communities, and other laudable support initiatives cutting across states outside the Niger Delta region.
The minister revealed that due to meagre capital budgetary ceiling in the proposed budget, the ministry is constrained to adopt measures and apply certain parameters to guide it’s operation in the implementation of the 2025 budget. These measures according to him, include stepping down projects with low level completion, completion of projects and programs that are on-going, reduction of high incidence of abandoned projects and finally, emphasis on human capital development, job creation and social protection programs. All these are critical to the realisation of the ministry’s mandate, the minister emphasised.
Engr. Momoh appealed to the joint committee to increase the ministry’s budget to enable it address the development challenges facing the regions.
Both the committees appreciated the challenges, efforts and commitment of the ministry and assured of their collaboration to assist in the realisation of the ministry’s mandate.
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