•Asks minister to prepare new estimates that reflect financial needs
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Livestock Development has directed the Minister of Livestock Development Ministry, Mr. Idi Maiha, to prepare a supplementary budget that would cover funds needed for its proper takeoff, saying the N11.8 billion proposed in the 2025 budget is inadequate.
President Bola Tinubu created the ministry about three months ago.
Out of the N11.8 billion, N10 billion is for capital expenditure while N1.8 billion is for overhead.
Addressing the Committee, yesterday, Maiha said structures were being put together with formative departments from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security which it was carved out of.
He informed the lawmakers that the ministry operates from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) as it is yet to secure office accommodation, other facilities, office and operational equipment needed to run as a full fledged ministry.
He informed the lawmakers that the ministry has initiated talks with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to secure office accommodation.
On the 2025 allocation, the minister said though small, it will be utilised to push the ministry’s take off effectively with the statutorily transfer of livestock related MDAs under the Ministry of Agriculture.
For planned activities of the ministry in 2025, he explained that capital projects would be spread across all geopolitical zones according to specific needs, adding that they will be market-driven to attract local and foreign investments.
Responding, the joint committee asked the minister to harmonise adequate financial needs and present it in the form of supplementary budget, promising that it would get prompt approval.
The Senate Committee chairman, Musa Mustapha, assured that they would do their “best to see how we can help the ministry achieve its mandate.”
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee on Livestock Development, Wale Raji, queried the input from the Presidential Implementation Committee for the take-off of the ministry.
“There will be a need for you to make a special presentation on this or to come up with a supplementary budget that will reflect the hope of Nigerians. The budget is abysmally low to respond to the yearnings of Nigerians,” he said.