Lack of funding the Committees on Zonal Development Commissions in the Senate is gradually turning excitement that heralded them into disappointment and even into lamentation.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The senator representing Ebonyi South, Anthony Ani, on Friday said the take-off of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) is being hampered by lack of funds, disclosing that it has not received any allocation since its inauguration.
Ani raised the concern during a meeting between the Senate Committee on Appropriations and chairmen of various standing committees at the National Assembly, where several lawmakers lamented inadequate funding of Senate committees and its impact on oversight functions and budget implementation.
“Mr Chairman, you have read out the timetable to be followed by the various committees for consideration of the 2026 budget, but the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission that I belong to does not have money to organise meeting with any agency due to zero allocation since formation and inauguration,” Ani said.
He added that credible information available to him showed that other Senate committees overseeing zonal development commissions were also yet to be funded, wondering how such committees could effectively carry out their mandates.
Corroborating Ani’s position, Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West), warned that the excitement that followed the creation of the zonal development commissions was fast turning into disappointment.
“Lack of funding the Committees on Zonal Development Commissions in the Senate is gradually turning excitement that heralded them into disappointment and even into lamentation,” Zam said.
The debate also extended to concerns over multiple and poor budget implementation. Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Oyewunmi Olalere (Osun West), cautioned the Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West)-led Committee on Appropriations to intensify efforts at ensuring revenue-generating agencies meet expectations for effective budget funding.
According to Olalere, the promise of a single-budget implementation from April 1, 2026 is being threatened by outstanding obligations from previous budgets.
“The promise on single budget implementation from April 1st this year is being threatened, because parts of the capital component of the 2024 budget in terms of contracts execution are not paid yet, not to talk of the 30% capital component of 2025 budget expected to expire by the 31st of March,” he said.
He added: “Today (Friday) is January 30, which means that only two months are left for clearing off the leftovers of 2024 and 2025 budgets to pave way for the promised single budget implementation from April 1st 2026.
“Mr Chairman, a lot needs to be done between now and next month by your committee and critical stakeholders to prevent continuation of multiple budget implementation.”
Also contributing, Senator Francis Adenigba Fadaunsi (Osun East) said debts arising from the 2024 budget remained unpaid, noting that affected contractors were still protesting.
“I concur with my colleague from our state on the yet to be fully implemented 2024 budget because the affected unpaid contractors are still carrying placards around. This committee must reach out to the critical stakeholders for the required tidying up of 2024 and 2025 budgets before 1st April 2026,” he said, adding that “2024 budget debt has not been paid.”
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) urged his colleagues to exercise patience, advising them to wait until full details of the proposed N58.472 trillion 2026 budget are made available.After their contributions, Senator Adeola moved for a closed door meeting which was adopted.