The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Beta Edu, has raised concerns over the inadequacy of the allocation to her ministry in the 2024 budget, emphasizing that without an appropriate increase, she would be unable to fulfill the mandate of tackling poverty in the country. Speaking during the defense of her ministry’s budget before the National Assembly joint Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Edu highlighted the challenges posed by the allocated funds.
The minister expressed that the overhead ceiling of N532.5 billion, representing a 28% increase over the 2023 budget, does not adequately match the 27.33% inflation rate in the economy. Additionally, she noted a significant reduction in the capital budget ceiling from N3.7 billion in 2022 to N1.3 billion in 2023, a 71% decrease. Edu stressed that the minimal increase to N1.5 billion in the 2024 budget does not align with the ministry’s mandate to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
Edu pleaded with the committee to consider the importance of adequately funding the ministry, stating that without an appropriate budget increase, the words spoken about tackling poverty would not be matched with actions. She highlighted the ministry’s special projects and the recent approval of the Humanitarian and Poverty Eradication Trust Fund by the Federal Executive Council.
The Trust Fund is expected to receive contributions from the Federal Government, 30% counterpart funding from donor agencies and development partners, 30% from the private sector, and 10% from other innovative funds of resource mobilization. Edu appealed to the committee and the appropriation committee to provide an appropriate budget allocation for the ministry’s activities.
In response, the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Idiat Adebule, pledged that the committee would critically examine the budget estimates and consider the minister’s appeal.
