The Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation has queried the allocation of N8.9 billion for the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in the 2025 budget. It said the sum was grossly inadequate and summoned the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, for consultation on securing a larger allocation for the ministry.
Speaking at the budget defence session of the ministry at the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kenneth Eze (APC, Ebonyi Central), rejected the proposed 2025 budget for the Ministry. He explained that the decision to reject the budget was unanimous and had been adopted by all members of the committee.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was accompanied by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ibidapo Okunnu, and heads of agencies under the Ministry, posited that the mandate of the Ministry as a service provider is to protect and defend the image of the country, as well as the dissemination of information and the promotion of national values.
“The year 2024 was pivotal for the Ministry as we rolled out a series of innovative and impactful programmes to enhance public communication, deepen citizens’ engagement, and promote national values,” he said.
