Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has projected a whooping sum of N3.7 billion for “research and development” amid calls for cut in governance costs.
This was reflected in the 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion signed by President Bola Tinubu in January this year and sighted by Newspot on Wednesday in Abuja.
Newspot recalls that the budget presented by President Tinubu was N27.5 trillion, but was increased by lawmakers by a difference of N1.2 trillion.
The budget came under public discourse when Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District alleged the padding of the budget to the tune of N3 trillion for which he was sent on suspension.
The ministry was carved out by Tinubu from the old Ministry of Information, Culture and National Orientation. The sum of N160 million was also earmarked for the construction of a skill acquisition centre for art and craft in Musawa LGA of Katsina State in the North West.
Again, the sum of N290 million was allocated for construction of solar street lights in Musawa Local Government Council, the home of the Minister.
A further look at the compendium of the 2024 budget shows N98 million and N150 million for a “Nigerian pavilion” at the next Cannes Film Festival slated for May 14 and 25 in France and the ministry’s “information desk” at the Abuja international airport respectively.
The sum of N26 million was set aside for miscellaneous – refreshments and publicity among others.
Speaking with Dr Muktar Alkali of the Centre for Transparency and Accountability on his feelings on some agencies of government after one year of President Tinubu’s administration, he expressed disappointment, saying:
“In the last one year, it’s been inefficiency and high cost of governance by some agencies.
“This means that there no difference from the past that has brought the nation to the sad story we are seeing today. We are studying what and what has happened in some agencies and will get back to the media in due course”.
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