The Senate Committee on Special Duties has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed over N206 billion inserted into the 2023 budget.
The Chairman of the committee Sen. Yusuf Yusuf, made the summon when the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Farouq, appeared before the committee for defence of the ministry’s 2023 budget on Monday.
A member of the committee Sen. Ishaku Abbo had asked Farouq about N206 billion in the budget that the minister intended to borrow.
In her response, the minster said they made mention of the projects for 2022 which was not released adding that part of it was for the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
She said the money was not released noting that it is now recurring by almost 10 folds.
Ahmed noted that they are also going to clarify from the ministry of finance to know why the increase in spite of the fact that the previous year, the money was not even released for the project.
The chairman of the committee, therefore, approved the motion to summon the minister of finance to appear before the committee to give explanation about the N206 billion.