Drama In Senate As Senators Cry Out Over Paucity Of Funds

A mild drama unfolded in the Senate on Friday as some Senators openly expressed frustration over paucity of funds, which they said has hindered the effective functioning of standing committees and hampered budget implementation.

The complaints emerged during a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and chairmen of various standing committees of the Senate.

The first to raise the issue was Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South), who disclosed that the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission has not received any funding since its inauguration.

“Mr Chairman, you have read out the timetable to be followed by the various committees for consideration of the 2026 budget, but the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission that I belong to does not have money to organise meetings with any agency due to zero allocation since its formation and inauguration,” Ani said.

He added that, based on credible information, other Senate committees overseeing zonal development commissions were also yet to receive funding, questioning how such committees could function effectively.

Corroborating Ani’s concerns, chairman of the Senate Committee on the North-Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), warned that the initial excitement over the creation of the commissions should not be allowed to turn into disappointment.

“Lack of funding for the Committees on Zonal Development Commissions in the Senate is gradually turning the excitement that heralded their creation into disappointment and even lamentation,” Zam said.

Expanding the discussion to broader budgetary challenges, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, 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 to fund the budget.

He warned that the Federal Government’s promise of single-budget implementation, scheduled to begin April 1, 2026, was under threat.

“Parts of the capital component of the 2024 budget, in terms of contract execution, have not been paid, not to mention the 30 per cent capital component of the 2025 budget expected to expire by March 31,” he said.

Olalere noted that with only two months remaining before April 1, urgent action was required to clear outstanding obligations from the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

“A lot needs to be done between now and next month by your committee and other critical stakeholders to prevent the continuation of multiple budget implementation,” he added.

Similarly, Senator Francis Fadaunsi (Osun East) lamented that debts arising from the 2024 budget had yet to be fully settled.

“I concur with my colleague from Osun State. The 2024 budget has not been fully implemented, and affected unpaid contractors are still carrying placards around. This committee must engage critical stakeholders to tidy up the 2024 and 2025 budgets before April 1, 2026,” he said.

However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) intervened to calm the growing chorus of complaints, urging his colleagues to exercise patience until full details of the N58.472 trillion 2026 budget were made available.

Following Oshiomhole’s intervention, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, called for an executive session and requested journalists to excuse the committee.