NSHA Begins 2025 Budget Implementation Review, Discovers N4.5bn Undisbursed Loan in Women Affairs Ministry

By David Odama

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has raised concerns over the N4.5 billion World Bank loan meant for women’s empowerment in the state, which remains unspent under the “Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up.

The Assembly expressed shock that the state government has already started servicing the loan while the intended beneficiaries—women across the state—have yet to access the funds.

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki, made the disclosure on Thursday in Lafia when the State Debt Management Office (DMO) appeared before the committee for the 2025 budget review.

The Nigeria for Women Program Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), supported by the World Bank, is designed to expand women’s economic empowerment by establishing Women Affinity Groups, improving access to financial and livelihood support, and promoting collective bargaining among women in selected states.

Hon. Akwashiki questioned why the N4.5 billion released through the Federal Government has been left idle in the Ministry of Women Affairs while the state continues to repay the loan.

> “We are saddened by your explanation that the N4.5 billion meant for clusters of women as empowerment is still domiciled in the Ministry of Women Affairs, yet the state is already servicing the loan. Why should government service a loan that was not utilized?” he asked.

While commending Governor Abdullahi Sule’s infrastructural strides in road, water, and other sectors, Akwashiki stressed that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must ensure transparency in their activities. He directed the Commissioner for Women Affairs to provide a written explanation to the committee regarding the loan.

He further ordered all MDAs that have not submitted their loan and debt records to the DMO to do so within two weeks, citing the need for accountability. The committee noted that the state has acquired an external loan of N81 billion, with N555 million deducted monthly from the Federation Account as interest, yet ministries are allegedly frustrating efforts to verify its utilization.

Earlier, Executive Director of the DMO, Mr. Festus Lolo Umbugala, confirmed that the N4.5 billion was released in 2024 under the NFWP-SU but was never disbursed to beneficiaries, even though repayment has commenced.

According to him, the program is designed to boost women’s economic opportunities, improve resilience to climate change, and expand financial inclusion for unbanked women.

Umbugala reaffirmed his office’s commitment to transparency and accountability in debt management despite challenges in obtaining cooperation from ministries.

In a related development, the Office of the Head of Service also appeared before the committee for its second quarter 2025 budget appraisal. Led by Mrs. Belinda Oyigbenu, Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Manpower Development, the office reported good performance in recurrent expenditure but noted zero releases for capital projects.

Responding, Hon. Akwashiki commended the Head of Service, Barr. Abigail Waya, and her team for their diligence in ensuring that the right processes are followed.

> “The Head of Service and her management team are doing well. They always stand firm to ensure the right things are done for the growth of the civil service and the overall development of the state,” he said.

The committee chairman assured that the Assembly will continue to enforce transparency and accountability across all MDAs while expressing concern over some unapproved expenditures.