Women Affairs Ministry Seeks Upward Review of N134.2bn 2026 Budget

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has called for an upward review of the N134.2 billion proposed for it in the 2026 fiscal year, following the Senate’s concern over poor releases for the ministry’s 2025 budget.

The minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made the request yesterday during a budget defence session with the Senate Committee on Women Affairs.

She explained that an upward review of the 2026 allocation would enable the ministry to implement programmes to address the multifaceted challenges confronting women across the country.

“In line with the plan and the need for more domestic allocations in the 2026 fiscal year, an upward review of the budget estimates for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should be done,” she said.

Responding, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Ireti Kingibe, described the request as welcome but insisted that the persistent problem of poor fund releases must first be addressed by the executive.

“We are not against an upward review of what is earmarked for your ministry in 2026, but the problem of abysmal releases of funds, as reflected in your presentation on the 2025 budget appropriation and releases, is a serious concern to us. That problem must be addressed first,” she said.

Earlier, while presenting the ministry’s 2025 budget performance and 2026 projections, the minister disclosed that out of the N89.8 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2025, only N394 million was released in December and not utilised.

She added that only N471 million was released from the N2.8 billion appropriated for overhead costs in 2025.

For the 2026 fiscal year, she said a total of N134.2 billion has been earmarked for the ministry, comprising N2.1 billion for personnel costs, N131.2 billion for capital expenditure, and N810.9 million for overhead.

The Senate committee assured the minister that it would examine the proposal while pushing for improved budget implementation to ensure that allocations translate into tangible benefits for women and vulnerable groups across the country.