The Kogi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hajia Fatima Momoh, has identified funding constraints and inadequate manpower as major challenges affecting the effective performance of her Ministry.
Hajia Fatima made this known while defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget before the House Committee on Culture and Tourism at the Kogi State House of Assembly.
According to her, although budgets are often approved, the Ministry is faced with the challenge of poor cash backing, which limits project execution.
According to her, critical departments such as Tourism, Hotel and Cooperative Services, as well as Art and Creative Economy, are understaffed, with only two officers manning each department.
“These challenges have continued to hinder the Ministry’s ability to fully deliver on its mandate. We are therefore appealing to this Honorable House to assist us in addressing these issues.”
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism and Member Representing Yagba West State Constituency, Hon. Ibikunle Idowu, said it is the constitutional responsibility of the legislature to invite Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to appear before relevant standing committees to defend their annual budget proposals, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to him, beyond examining budget estimates, the committee is also empowered to ask questions on how previous allocations were utilized, stressing that the exercise is aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and effective service delivery.
Hon. Idowu urged officials of the Ministry to be open, detailed and comprehensive in their submissions, assuring them of the committee’s commitment to supporting initiatives that would promote culture, tourism and the creative economy in Kogi State.
