The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, accused the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, of removing the proposed fund approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the 2024 budget proposal being considered by the National Assembly.
Dr. Edu disclosed this during the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget defence held at the instance of the joint Senate and House of Representatives’ Committees on Special Duties, chaired by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC-Borno Central).
Some of the lawmakers who spoke during the budget defence, expressed grave displeasure over the failure of the Ministry to provide palliatives to the majority of Nigerians, and demanded for the full details of the N10 billion special intervention fund provided for in the 2024 budget proposal.
The lawmakers also requested an explanation on why the sum of N208 billion bilateral loan provided for in the 2023 Appropriation was not provided for in the 2024 budget proposal.
While responding to some of the questions, the Minister, who did not disclose the actual amount approved by FEC, however noted that: “The Federal Executive Council has recently approved the creation of the humanitarian and poverty alleviation trust fund which was sent in as part of budget appropriation for 2024.
“Unfortunately, that was omitted which the Minister for Budget expressly apologised for that omission.
“We seek that, that be included and the government’s portion because it’s a flexible form of funding for humanitarian intervention across the country which already I had given a clear picture of what the humanitarian issues across the country looks like.”
