The House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation stated on Wednesday that the N8.7bn allocated for the Ministry of Information and National Orientation is insufficient for its operations in 2025.
At the 2025 budget defence session in Abuja, the committee also rejected the N1.2bn capital component, describing it as grossly inadequate.
Committee Chairman, Fatoba Olusola (APC-Ekiti), noted that the allocation for the ministry in 2024, when the national budget was N28.7tn, was higher than the N8.2bn allocated in 2025, despite the national budget rising to N49.7tn.
“It is unacceptable for an agency responsible for disseminating information to receive such a small portion of the 2025 budget,” Olusola said.
Deputy Chairman Felix Nwaeke expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation and called for increased funding for the ministry.
Spokesman for the House, Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti), pointed out that several government agencies lacking expertise were performing the ministry’s duties and suggested that all information-related allocations should be placed under the ministry.
Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia) criticised the envelope budgeting system, saying it limits the effectiveness of government agencies and called for its abandonment to allow agencies to function freely.
The chairman ruled that the committee had rejected the capital component and would work with the leadership of the House, Senate, and the Minister of Finance to increase the budget.
Earlier, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Muhammed Idris, said the ministry would strengthen its engagement with Nigerians in 2025 and encouraged the youth to adopt the values of the nation’s founding fathers to revive the spirit of nationalism.
