The Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba has appealed to the State Assembly to give an express passage to the proposed 2024 budget of N1,243,139,413 of the ministry.
Buba made the appeal on Saturday in Lokoja when she appeared before members of the Kogi State House of Assembly to defend her ministry’s budget.
The Commissioner stated that, the approval will not only secure the programs and projects of the Ministry in the coming year, but will give a robust compliment to the Executives arms of government in delivering the dividends of democracy to their esteemed constituency.
According to Buba, the performance of the 2023 budget under the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was far below expectation because of the deplorable economic situation of the country.
According to the Commissioner, this has negatively impinged on the ministry’s ability to effectively deliver on her core mandate for the year under consideration.
She said ” In view of the above, I am appealing to this Honorable House to not only give the Ministry accelerated passage and approval, but rally behind her to ensure that this budget get the desired attention by Government; to enable the Ministry achieve its core mandate and objective behind its establishment in line with the present government’s policy direction.
“The assessment of 2023 budget could have been near perfect if there were Correspondent releases far effective implementation of the laudable projects conceived by the Ministry in the budget lines, some of which were fundamentally statutory.
“It is therefore on this optimistic note that the Ministry is appealing
to this Honorable Committee which have been partners in progress in the affairs of our constituents, children, women, widows, persons with disabilities to expeditiously accelerate the passage and approval of the year 2024 budget estimate.
” Kindly Assist to put your weight behind the Ministry in her desire to lobby government to facilitate the construction of a Kogi State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, an item which has been a recurring decimal in our state budget but is gradually becoming an embarrassment to us as a state
“The non-release of abandoned baby expenses in the budget which is making it exceedingly difficult to holistically intervene in so many challenging social menaces.
” This assembly should kindly help Increase in the Ministries monthly imprest to assist us attend to several pressures and demand for assistance by orphans and
vulnerable children, widows and the society’s less privilege population”.
When the budget defence went into technical session, the lawmakers queried the revenue generated by the ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. They were not pleased with the N1.5Million generated as revenue for the year 2023.
Responding to their observations, Buba told the Lawmakers that the present administration instructed the ministry to hand over one of the area generating revenue for the Ministry the Children amusement park to National Youths Council of Nigeria, (NYCN).
“It has come to our notice that the NYCN are not remitting funds to Government. Those People were treating our staff with distain. I tabled the issue before the State Executive Council, and the Government approved another place to build another amusement for our Children. So, for over a year now, we are not in charge of the Children amusement park and we could not generate any revenue from that place”
The Commissioner, also cleared the air on the revenue collection at a primary School which is under the supervision of the ministry.
Reacting to the Commissioner position, the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Yusuf Aliyu Umar instructed the clerk of the House Committee of Women Affairs to look into the matter and revert back immediately.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman, house Committee on Women Affairs and member representing Ibaji State Constituency Hon. Comfort Ojoma Unwuchola noted that, the Assembly shall not hesitate to amend where necessary some of the provision of this bill and the estimates contain therein to make sure it addressed the hope and aspiration of our people
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in section 121(1) mandated every State governor of the federation to lay before the House of Assembly of their respective State for approval, the yearly Revenue and Expenditure of the State.
“The House Standing Committees which are constituted in accordance to section 103 of our constitution equally hold the mandate to review and scrutinize the proposed budget to ensure it reflects the principles of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness” she stated.