The federal ministry of arts, culture and creative economy has set aside a whopping sum of N3.7 billion for “research and development”.
The money was cited in the 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion signed by President Bola Tinubu in January this year.
Tinubu had proposed N27.5 trillion, but the lawmakers jerked it up by N1.2 trillion.
Recall that the appropriation act came under scrutiny after Abdul Ningi, now suspended senator representing Bauchi central, alleged that the budget was padded by N3 trillion.
In the budget for the ministry created by the Tinubu administration, the sum of N160 million will be spent for the construction of a skill acquisition centre for art and craft in Musawa LGA of Katsina state.
This is the LGA Hannatu Musawa, minister of arts, culture and creative economy, hails from.
Again, the sum of N290 million was earmarked for the provision of solar street lights in Musawa LGA.
The ministry also provided N98 million for a “Nigerian pavilion” at the next Cannes Film Festival that will be held between May 14 and 25 in France.
A sum of N150 million was put aside by the ministry for “art culture information desk” at the Abuja international airport.
The ministry budgeted N26 million for miscellaneous – refreshments and publicity among others.
There have been calls to cut down the costs of governance by many civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals.
The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in August 2023 confirmed that she was still a serving corps member.
“Yes she is a serving corp member,” Eddy Megwa, director of press and public relations at the NYSC headquarters, confirmed at the time.
However, the minister did not comment on the issue.