A mild drama erupted in Senate as lawmakers cried out over paucity of funds which they said has crippled operations of standing committees and undermined effective budget implementation
There was mild drama in the Senate on Friday as several lawmakers voiced frustration over inadequate funding, which they said has crippled the operations of standing committees and undermined effective budget implementation.
The concerns were raised during a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and chairmen of various Senate standing committees.
Leading the complaints, Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) disclosed that the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission had not received any funds 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,” Senator Ani said.
He added that, from available information, other Senate committees overseeing zonal development commissions were facing similar challenges, raising concerns about their ability to function effectively.
Supporting Senator Ani’s position, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North-Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), warned that the optimism surrounding the establishment of the commissions was fast giving way to 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,” Senator Zam said.
Widening the debate to broader fiscal issues, 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 cautioned that the Federal Government’s planned transition to a single-budget implementation cycle, slated to commence on April 1, 2026, could be jeopardised.
“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,” Senator Olalere said.
He stressed that with barely two months left before April 1, urgent steps were needed to clear outstanding liabilities from the 2024 and 2025 budgets to avoid a rollover into multiple budget cycles.
Echoing this concern, Senator Francis Fadaunsi (Osun East) lamented that debts arising from the 2024 budget were 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.
Amid the rising complaints, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) appealed for calm, urging his colleagues to exercise patience pending the release of full details of the N58.472 trillion 2026 budget.
Following Senator Oshiomhole’s intervention, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, called for an executive session and asked journalists to excuse the committee.
Earlier, the Senate Committee on Appropriations announced a timetable for the consideration and passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, with March 17, 2026, set as the target date for completion.
Unveiling the schedule, the committee’s chairman, Senator Adeola (Ogun West), said the timelines were designed to provide a clear and structured legislative process that would guarantee the timely passage of the budget.
Under the timetable, public hearings and engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are slated for Monday, February 2 to Friday, February 13, 2026, during which subcommittees will meet with heads of MDAs for budget defence and necessary clarifications.
The submission and defence of subcommittee reports will take place from February 16 to 23, 2026.
Thereafter, the committee will embark on the consolidation and harmonisation of reports between February 21 and March 17, 2026, with some activities running concurrently to sustain momentum and prevent delays.
The presentation and laying of the final report before the Senate are expected between March 17 and March 19, 2026.
Senator Adeola emphasised the need for urgency and discipline among committee members, urging strict compliance with the timetable, even as he noted that Senate leadership is pressing for an earlier passage date of March 12.
