NASS Rejects N11.8 Billion Budget for Newly Established Livestock Ministry

NASS Rejects N11.8 Billion Budget for Newly Established Livestock Ministry

By Fly Cable News

The Joint Committee on Livestock Development of the Senate and House of Representatives has rejected the 2025 budgetary allocation of N11.8 billion for the takeoff of the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

Committee Chairman Sen. Musa Mustapha stated that lawmakers are aware of the significant challenges involved in establishing a new ministry and will carefully review the budget for potential adjustments.

The Federal Government had proposed N10 billion for capital expenditure and N1.8 billion for overheads in the 2025 budget for the ministry, which began operations about three months ago.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, and officials from the ministry appeared before the joint committee, outlining various challenges. Maiha noted that the ministry is still in the process of putting necessary structures in place, including the formation of departments from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Wale Raji, Chairman of the House Committee on Livestock Development, criticized the budget as insufficient and called for a more substantial allocation or supplementary budget to address the needs and expectations of Nigerians effectively.