Both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) have resolved to increase funding for the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to tackle poverty and other humanitarian crises in the country.
This was as the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, stressed the need for adequate budgetary provisions in view of international donors’ resolve to focus on Sudan, Middle East and Ukraine.
The joint Senate and House of Representatives committee on humanitarian affairs gave the assurance in Abuja during the ministry’s 2024 budget performance and 2025 budget proposal defence session.
Speaking during the budget defence held separately at the instance of the Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Investment chaired by Senator Idiat Adebule and chairman, House committee on Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Abdulkadir Jobe, the minister reeled out robust plans to tackle myriad humanitarian crises and poverty across the country.
While responding to a question bordering on the non-implementation of the 5,000 vulnerable Nigerians, the minister assured that efforts would be intensified to get the president’s approval for the release of N3.7 billion approved in the 2024 Appropriation Act as grant to 5,000 vulnerable groups domiciled with Access Bank for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries.
He said the ministry’s 2025 overhead ceiling was increased from N682.682.013 in 2024 to N978,386,116.00 in 2025, representing 43.31% increase above the 2024 budget with a view to cushion the effect of inflation.
“Conversely, the capital budget ceiling of N4,601,092.674.00 will not be able to address the ever increasing humanitarian challenges, to reduce poverty, address accurate malnutrition.
“It is worth noting that global humanitarian support from donor countries have dropped, and most donors are targeting the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine. In addition, the HRP is targeting only the BAY states of Bomo, Adamawa and Yobe.
“The National Assembly should also note that the ministry has a mandate to create 2 million jobs in 2025.
This will be achieved through a combination of efforts: The ministry have already procured starter packs that will enable over 110,000 beneficiaries to embark on self-reliant ventures. These starter packs are vital tools for entrepreneurship and economic growth.
“However, to ensure the success of these programmes, we require N55 billion funds to conduct a 2 week intensive training for all beneficiaries, payment of resource person and logistics funding to facilitate the effective distribution of the starter packs at N45,000 per beneficiary.
“There is need for monitoring and evaluation to ensure the transparency and sustainability of these initiatives at N5,000 per beneficiary. Additionally, we need to train 50,000 unemployed graduates and non graduates under our Skill2Wealth Initiative which seeks to create nano, micro and small scale businesses 21d will focus on connecting unemployed youth to the private sector, provide them with starter pack and link them to market opportunities to foster sustainable employment.
Yilwatda also stressed the need to create a budget line for Humanitarian Response Fund of N10 billion for communities affected by climate-change related disasters, conflicts and man-made crises, including: flooding, fire outbreaks and insurgency attacks that have displaced thousands.
He further solicited for another budget line of N15 billion for durable solutions for households affected by disaster in 2024, saying an additional sum of N130 billion is required by the ministry as intervention fund to resolve these humanitarian and poverty reduction challenges across the country in 2025.
