Senate committee Queries SDGs Budget as Only ₦3.8bn Released from ₦348.7bn 2025 Allocation

By Inalegwu Osemi

The Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), chaired by Danjuma Goje, has raised serious concerns over discrepancies and low releases in the 2025 budget of the SDGs office.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, was absent at the budget defence due to bereavement and was represented by the Administrative Head and Secretary of Program (SOP), Mohammed Bala, who presented the budget on behalf of the office.

Presenting the 2025 budget performance, Bala disclosed that although a total approved appropriation of ₦348.7 billion was made for the year, only ₦3.8 billion had been released so far. He noted that the office remains committed to improving healthcare delivery, education, environmental sustainability, and other critical development sectors across the country.

However, during deliberations, the SOP admitted that certain figures contained in the 2025 budget documents were inaccurate. He assured the committee that the office would carry out a proper review of the records and revert to the committee chairman with corrected details.

The committee members expressed dissatisfaction over the number of incomplete projects linked to the SDGs office. In response, the representative apologized, attributing the delays to incomplete delivery of materials by contractors and assured lawmakers that the projects would be completed as soon as possible.

Lawmakers also raised concerns over allegations that some projects were executed using inferior materials, warning that such practices undermine the objectives of sustainable development interventions. The committee stressed the need for strict quality control and transparency in project implementation.

On the 2026 fiscal proposal, the SDGs office presented a proposed budget of ₦67.4 billion. However, the Senate committee queried several aspects of the proposed figures and directed the office to conduct a comprehensive review before resubmitting the proposal for further legislative consideration.

Chairman Goje reiterated the committee’s commitment to ensuring accountability, transparency, and effective utilization of public funds allocated for sustainable development initiatives.