Women Affairs Minister Seeks Higher 2026 Budget as Senate Flags ‘Abysmal’ 2025 Fund Releases
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Monday called for an upward review of the N134.2 billion proposed for her ministry in the 2026 fiscal year, citing the need for stronger intervention to address challenges facing women nationwide.
The request was made during the ministry’s budget defence before the Senate Committee on Women Affairs at the National Assembly of Nigeria.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim argued that increasing domestic allocations in the 2026 budget cycle had become necessary to enable the ministry effectively deliver on its social development mandate.
“In line with the plan and need for more domestic allocations in the 2026 fiscal year, an upward review of budget estimates for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should be done,” she said.
However, the appeal drew immediate reaction from lawmakers, who expressed concern over what they described as extremely poor releases for the ministry’s 2025 budget.
Chairman of the Committee, Ireti Kingibe, said while the Senate was not opposed to increasing the 2026 allocation, the executive must first address the troubling pattern of fund releases for the current fiscal year.
“We are not against upward review of what is earmarked for your ministry in 2026, but the problem of abysmal releases of funds as reflected in your presentation on the 2025 appropriation is a serious concern.
That problem must be addressed first,” she stated.
Earlier in her presentation, the minister disclosed that out of N89.8 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2025, only N394 million was released in December — and remained unused.
Similarly, she revealed that just N471 million was released out of the N2.8 billion approved for overhead costs in 2025.
For 2026, the ministry has been allocated N134.2 billion, comprising N2.1 billion for personnel costs, N131.2 billion for capital projects, and N810.9 million for overhead expenses.
The development highlights growing concerns within the Senate over budget implementation gaps, particularly in ministries tasked with critical social welfare and gender development responsibilities. Read More
