DRAMA: BETTA EDU, THE HUMANITARIAN MINISTER, ACCUSES BAGUDU, THE BUDGET MINISTER, OF OMISSIONS IN THE 2024 BUDGET

She revealed that although the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had properly approved the Humanitarian and Poverty Trust Fund, it had not been included in the paper sent to the National Assembly.

Speaking on Monday before a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Special Duties regarding the 2023 budget performance and 2024 budget defense, Edu revealed that Bagudu had left out the fund.

However, she informed the committee led by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC-Borno Central) that the Minister of Budget has expressed regret for the omission.

The revelation comes after a few senators voiced their dissatisfaction with the Ministry’s inability to offer most Nigerians with palliative care and asked access to the whole details of the N10 billion special intervention fund that was included in the budget plan for 2024.

The members also asked for an explanation as to why the 2024 budget proposal did not include the N208 billion bilateral loan that was scheduled in the 2023 appropriation.

The Minister said the following in response to some of the questions: “The Federal Executive Council has recently approved the creation of the humanitarian and poverty alleviation trust fund which was sent in as part of budget appropriation for 2024. However, the Minister did not disclose the actual amount approved by FEC.

“We seek that, that be included and the government’s portion because it’s a flexible form of funding for humanitarian intervention across the country which already I had given a clear picture of what the humanitarian issues across the country looks like.”