Lawmakers in the Senate on Friday openly expressed frustration over the scarcity of funds, warning that the situation is affecting the effective functioning of Senate committees and slowing budget implementation.
The concerns were raised during a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and chairmen of various Senate standing committees.
Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) first drew attention to the issue, revealing that the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission has not received any funding since its inauguration.
According to Ani, the lack of funds has made it impossible for the committee to hold meetings or engage with relevant agencies. He added that other committees overseeing zonal development commissions were facing similar challenges, questioning how they could operate effectively without financial support.
Backing his claims, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North-Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), warned that the initial excitement surrounding the creation of the commissions was gradually giving way to disappointment.
He noted that continued lack of funding could erode public confidence in the commissions and undermine their objectives.
The discussion later expanded to broader budgetary issues. Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Oyewunmi Olalere (Osun West), urged the Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West), to ensure that revenue-generating agencies meet their obligations.
Olalere cautioned that the Federal Government’s plan to commence single-budget implementation on April 1, 2026, could be jeopardised, noting that parts of the capital components of the 2024 and 2025 budgets were yet to be paid.
Similarly, Senator Francis Fadaunsi (Osun East) lamented that debts from the 2024 budget remained unsettled, with contractors still protesting over unpaid jobs. He called for urgent engagement with key stakeholders to resolve outstanding budget issues before the April 1 deadline.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) appealed for calm, urging his colleagues to exercise patience until full details of the ₦58.472 trillion 2026 budget are made available.
