Funds Have Finished!” – Drama Erupts In Senate Over Budget Shortfall

A mild drama played out as lawmakers complained that inadequate financing has affected the work of standing committees and slowed down proper budget implementation.

The issue was raised during an interactive session between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the chairmen of various standing committees.

Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) was the first to draw attention to the matter, revealing that the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission has not received any funding since it was inaugurated.

“Mr Chairman, you have outlined the timetable for committees to consider the 2026 budget, but the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission, which I belong to, has no funds to hold meetings with agencies because we have received zero allocation since our formation,” Ani said.

He further disclosed that other committees overseeing zonal development commissions were also reportedly yet to receive funding, questioning how they could effectively carry out their responsibilities.

Supporting Ani’s remarks, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), chairman of the Senate Committee on the North-Central Development Commission, warned that the enthusiasm surrounding the establishment of the commissions was gradually fading due to lack of financial support.

“The absence of funding for these committees is slowly turning the excitement that greeted their creation into disappointment and even frustration,” Zam stated.

Shifting the discussion to broader budgetary concerns, Deputy Minority Leader Senator Oyewunmi Olalere (Osun West) urged the Appropriations Committee, led by Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), to ensure that revenue-generating agencies fulfil their responsibilities to fund the national budget.

He cautioned that the Federal Government’s plan to begin single-budget implementation from April 1, 2026, could be jeopardised.

Olalere noted that parts of the capital component of the 2024 budget remain unpaid, while only 30 per cent of the 2025 capital allocation is expected to be utilised before it expires on March 31.

With just two months left before April 1, he stressed the need for urgent action to settle outstanding obligations from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

Similarly, Senator Francis Fadaunsi (Osun East) lamented that contractors owed under the 2024 budget were still protesting due to unpaid debts.

“The 2024 budget has not been fully executed, and unpaid contractors are still carrying placards around. This committee must engage key stakeholders to resolve the 2024 and 2025 budget issues before April 1, 2026,” he said.

In response, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) stepped in to ease tensions, urging lawmakers to remain patient until the full breakdown of the proposed ₦58.472 trillion 2026 budget is presented.