By Comfort Olayinka
The National Assembly has summoned the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to explain the meager N9 billion budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Solid Minerals in the 2025 fiscal year.
Edun is expected to appear before the Joint Committee on Solid Minerals today at 3 pm, alongside the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu.
The summon follows the refusal of Senator Bagudu to appear before the committee last Wednesday, despite being directed to do so.
The Joint Committee, chaired by Senator Sampson Ekong, had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed N9 billion capital vote for the Ministry of Solid Minerals, describing it as “grossly inadequate”
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, had lamented the lack of progress in reviewing the budgetary allocation upward, despite his efforts to meet with President Bola Tinubu, Minister Edun, and other relevant officials.
Alake’s efforts were acknowledged by Senator Ekong, who commended the minister’s “spirited efforts” but expressed disappointment that nothing had been added to the proposed N9 billion.
The Joint Committee rejected the 2025 budget proposal for the Ministry of Solid Minerals and ordered Senator Bagudu to appear before it yesterday. However, Bagudu’s failure to appear led to the inclusion of the Budget Office in the summon.
Senator Ekong emphasized the importance of the solid minerals sector in diversifying the nation’s economy and expressed surprise that the same proposal was presented again.
A member of the committee, Kama Nkemkanma, alleged that the 2025 budget was a “budget of sabotage” because critical sectors needed to drive the economy were grossly underfunded. Nkemkanma stressed that the affected ministers and the DG of the Budget Office must appear before the committee as resolved.
The National Assembly’s move to summon the finance minister and other officials reflects its commitment to ensuring that critical sectors receive adequate funding. As the country seeks to diversify its economy, the solid minerals sector is expected to play a vital role.
The outcome of the summon is eagerly awaited, as it will determine the fate of the Ministry of Solid Minerals’ budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year.
