By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, has called for an upward review of the ministry’s proposed ₦134.2 billion allocation for the 2026 fiscal year, as the Senate raised concerns over poor fund releases for the 2025 budget.
The minister made the request on Monday during the ministry’s budget defence before the Senate Committee on Women Affairs at the National Assembly, saying increased funding was needed to address challenges facing women across the country.
“In line with the plan and need for more domestic allocations in the 2026 fiscal year, an upward review of budget estimates for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should be done,” she said.
However, the committee insisted that the issue of inadequate releases in 2025 must first be addressed. Chairman of the committee, Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), said lawmakers were not opposed to a higher allocation but described the pattern of releases as troubling.
“We are not against upward review… but the problem of abysmal releases of funds… is a serious concern to us. That problem must be addressed first,” Kingibe said.
Sulaiman Ibrahim disclosed that out of the ₦89.8 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2025, only ₦394 million was released in December and was not utilised. She added that only ₦471 million was released from the ₦2.8 billion earmarked for overhead costs.
For 2026, the minister said the proposed ₦134.2 billion budget includes ₦2.1 billion for personnel, ₦131.2 billion for capital projects and ₦810.9 million for overhead.
