The National Assembly has summoned the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, over what it described as the “miserable budgetary allocation” for the Ministry of Solid Minerals in the 2025 fiscal year.
The joint Committee on Solid Minerals, chaired by Senator Sampson Ekong (PDP, Akwa Ibom South), issued the summons yesterday in Abuja following Senator Bagudu’s failure to appear before the committee last Wednesday.
During a budget defence session with the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, the committee had earlier rejected the N9 billion proposed as the capital vote for the Ministry of Solid Minerals. It directed Bagudu to appear on Monday to address the issue.
However, Bagudu’s absence, coupled with Alake’s detailed account of unsuccessful attempts to increase the allocation, prompted the committee to summon the Budget Office’s Director-General.
The summoned officials are expected to appear before the joint committee on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Senator Ekong expressed disappointment over the allocation while commending Alake for his efforts to secure additional funding.
“Honorable Minister, we acknowledge your spirited efforts to get the N9 billion budgetary proposal for your ministry reviewed by the relevant officials. However, we are disappointed that no changes have been made despite these efforts.
“Solid Minerals is a critical sector for diversifying the nation’s economy. We rejected the N9 billion allocation last week and dismissed it again today.
“The Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the DG Budget are summoned to appear before this joint committee tomorrow by 3 p.m.,” Ekong stated.
Earlier, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake detailed his efforts to secure an increase in the N9 billion allocation before the 2025 budget presentation by President Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2024.
“I met with the President on the need for an upward review of the N9 billion budgetary proposal for the Ministry of Solid Minerals. I also met with the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, and the Director-General of the Budget Office.
“They all gave assurances that the allocation would be increased, but to my surprise, nothing has been done, even as I sit before this joint committee,” Alake lamented.
Alake’s frustration sparked strong reactions from committee members. Hon. Kama Nkemkanma, a member from Delta State, described the 2025 budget as a “budget of sabotage,” alleging that critical sectors needed to drive the economy are severely underfunded.
“The affected Ministers and the DG Budget Office must appear before this joint committee as resolved,” Nkemkanma insisted.
