Given the critical role the information sector plays in advancing the agenda of President Tinubu, Sen. Eze noted that the committee unanimously agreed to return the proposed budget.
The senate committee on information and national orientation has rejected the N8.9 billion budget proposal for the federal ministry of information and national orientation in the 2025 budget, deeming it grossly inadequate.
Consequently, the committee has summoned the minister of budget and economic planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, for consultations on increasing the budget allocation for the ministry.
The decision was announced by the committee’s chairman, Sen. Kenneth Eze (APC, Ebonyi central), during the ministry’s budget defense session on Tuesday. He emphasised that the committee unanimously agreed to return the proposed budget, citing its inadequacy in meeting the ministry’s needs, particularly given the critical role the information sector plays in advancing the agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “Last year, the minister appeared before the national assembly and in particular the senate, and we observed the very insignificant and minimal appropriation for the entire ministry considering the fact and the role that the information sector plays in this country and we are saying we want to drive a transformative agenda of Mr. President.
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“We deemed it necessary last year to recommend to the appropriation committee that there is every need for the information sector to be well funded and in doing that by the end of the day, we didn’t get the expected result.
“The ministry appeared before the committee again and came with the same and even lower appropriation for the information sector and its agencies.
“As the national assembly and senate, in particular, and as very responsive lawmakers, we feel it’s not proper and unacceptable for us to legislate on that proposal. So, the senate committee on information and national orientation unanimously resolved that this budget be returned.
“If the government wants to fund the information sector in this country, it should live up to the expectations and fund a very important sector like information properly so that the expected results will be achieved. So, we have thrown back the budget proposal to them to either improve on it or we give them zero allocation,” he added.
In response, the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, highlighted the ministry’s critical mandate of projecting Nigeria’s image, disseminating information, and promoting national values. Accompanied by senior officials and heads of agencies under the ministry, the minister described 2024 as a year of impactful programmes aimed at enhancing public communication and deepening citizens’ engagement.
“The year 2024 was pivotal for the ministry as we rolled out a series of innovative and impactful programmes to enhance public communication, deepen citizens’ engagement, and promote national values,” he said.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of Ebonyi Central district, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Sen. Eze throughout the 10th senate here.
