Senate Committee Questions SDGs Office Over ₦3.8bn Release from ₦348.7bn 2025 Budget

The Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has queried the implementation of the 2025 budget of the SDGs office, revealing that only ₦3.8 billion has so far been released from the ₦348.7 billion appropriated for the year.

The committee, chaired by Senator Danjuma Goje, raised the issue during a budget defence session in Abuja.

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

Bala informed lawmakers that although the National Assembly approved ₦348.7 billion for the SDGs office in the 2025 fiscal year, only ₦3.8 billion had been released to date. He added that the office remains committed to delivering interventions in healthcare, education, environmental sustainability and other priority sectors across the country.

However, under questioning, the SOP admitted that some of the figures contained in the 2025 budget documents were inaccurate. He assured the committee that the records would be reviewed and corrected figures forwarded to the chairman.

Members of the committee also expressed concern over numerous uncompleted projects attributed to the SDGs office. In response, Bala apologised and blamed the delays on contractors who had yet to fully supply required materials, assuring lawmakers that steps were being taken to fast-track completion.

The lawmakers further raised allegations that some projects were executed with substandard materials, warning that such practices defeat the objectives of sustainable development initiatives. The committee stressed the importance of quality control, accountability and transparency in project implementation.

On the proposed 2026 budget, the SDGs office submitted a figure of ₦67.4 billion. The committee, however, queried aspects of the proposal and directed the office to conduct a comprehensive review before resubmitting it for further legislative scrutiny.

Chairman Goje reiterated the committee’s determination to ensure effective utilisation of funds allocated for sustainable development programmes nationwide.