In a recent Senate session, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment, Doris Uzoka, faced intense scrutiny from senators while defending her ministry’s 2024 budget proposal. Uzoka disclosed that the budget includes N905 million for overhead costs and N8.1 billion for capital expenditure.
However, the spotlight turned to a contentious line item, as Adams Oshiomhole, a senator from Edo North and a committee member, expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of over one billion Naira for a single trip to Geneva, Switzerland.
Oshiomhole voiced his concerns, stating, “We cannot keep going on with over-bloated teams on foreign trips. Use the experts we have in your offices in those countries to save costs.”
The senator also queried the minister about the country’s balance of trade, particularly with China, emphasizing the need for countries importing goods to Nigeria to invest in local industries. Uzoka, however, admitted that her ministry lacked records of the balance of trade, prompting Oshiomhole’s disagreement.
“No Madam, I do not agree that there is no data. Such data exists with the CBN, customs, and other agencies,” Oshiomhole asserted, urging the minister to utilize existing resources to work for Nigerians.
In response, Uzoka defended her position, citing the establishment of a new unit called the Trade Intelligence Unit to generate and store trade-related data. Despite Oshiomhole’s dissatisfaction, she assured the Senate that she could work from anywhere and deliver results for Nigerians, noting that her office was currently undergoing renovation. The exchange underscores the tensions surrounding budgetary allocations and the necessity of transparent and efficient resource utilization.
