Senate summons Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed over #206 billion increased humanitarian budget
The Senate has summoned the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to explain an allocation of N206 billion inserted into the 2023 budget of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
The Senate, through its committee on Special Duties, asked that Ahmed appear before it with details and plans for the allocation made despite the country’s dwindling revenue and struggling economy.
The resolution to invite the minister was made during the budget defence session of the Humanitarian Affairs ministry
This was sequel to the inability of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq’s inability to provide details of the proposed allocation.
A member of the panel, Elisha Abbo, lamented how the committee had to summon Ms Ahmed days ago when the lawmakers considered the budget of the ministry of health and primary health care.
He complained that similar issues have come up with the Humanitarian ministry.
Farouq told the panel that she did not know how the N206 billion was inserted into her ministry’s 2023 budget by the ministry of finance.
The Chairman of the Committee, Yusuf Yusuf, thereafter, moved a motion to summon the finance minister to and give an explanation about the N206 billion inserted in the budget.
Meanwhile no date was given for Ahmed to appear before the committee.
