Budget: NASS Joint Committee Raises Concern Over Proposed Cut to Information Ministry’s Capital Allocation

The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Information and National Orientation has expressed concern that a proposed reduction in capital funding for the Information Ministry could undermine public communication and voter sensitisation efforts ahead of the next general elections.
The committee voiced the concern after examining the 2026 budget proposal of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, Mr. Shola Fatoba, stated that the ministry’s proposed capital allocation for 2026 stands at about 70 per cent of its 2025 capital budget, while personnel and overhead costs remain unchanged.
Mr. Fatoba explained that members unanimously agreed during a closed-door session that the proposed allocation would not be adequate to effectively operate the ministry and its agencies.
He added that the committee would engage the leadership of the National Assembly to seek a review of the proposal and may also escalate the matter to President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Muhammed Idris, noted that the funds allocated to the ministry are insufficient to address the increasing demands of public information management in a fast-evolving digital media environment.
Mallam Idris appealed to lawmakers to reconsider the allocation and approve additional funding to strengthen public communication infrastructure, support government-owned media organisations, and improve strategic engagement with citizens.

The Ministry of Information and National Orientation supervises agencies including the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Television Authority, among others.