Women Affairs Ministry seeks upward review of N134.2bn 2026 budget proposal
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged an upward review of the N134.2 billion proposed for the ministry in the 2026 fiscal year. Her
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged an upward review of the N134.2 billion proposed for the ministry in the 2026 fiscal year.
Her request came as the Senate Committee on Women Affairs criticised what it described as abysmally low cash releases for the ministry’s capital and overhead components in the 2025 budget.
The minister made the appeal on Monday during her 2026 budget defence before the Senate committee, arguing that increased allocation would enable the ministry to implement programmes designed to address the multifaceted challenges confronting women nationwide.
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“In line with the plan and need for more domestic allocations in the 2026 fiscal year, upward review of budget estimates for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should be done,” she said.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), said while the committee was not opposed to a higher allocation for 2026, the issue of poor fund releases must first be resolved by the executive.
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“We are not against upward review of what is earmarked for your ministry in 2026, but the problem is abysmal. Release of funds, as reflected in your presentation on the 2025 budget appropriation and releases, is a serious concern to us. That problem must be addressed first,” she stated.
Earlier, in her presentation on the 2025 budget performance and 2026 projections, the minister disclosed that of the N89.8 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2025, only N394 million was released in December, and the amount was not utilised.
She added that of the N2.8 billion appropriated for overhead in 2025, only N471 million was released.
For 2026, she said a total of N134.2 billion has been earmarked for the ministry, comprising N2.1 billion for personnel costs, N131.2 billion for capital expenditure, and N810.9 million for overhead.
