Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to ensure transparency, accountability and public oversight in the proposed ₦780 million budgetary allocation for musical equipment under the Youth Reorientation Programme in Bende Federal Constituency.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the civil society organisation said the allocation, captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as part of the Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), must be implemented in an open and accountable manner.
Kalu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, explained that the budget provision, after Value Added Tax and other statutory deductions, stands at N780 million and is intended to support a youth re-orientation and social support programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations.
According to him, “The funds are intended to support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to promote campaigns against vices like the spread of narcotics, sexual offences, and violent crimes while instilling discipline, values, peace and character development among young people in the communities.”
But, FENRAD, while acknowledging the Deputy Speaker’s clarification on the actual budgetary figure for the project, maintained that the clarification did not eliminate the need for greater public disclosure on how the intervention would be executed.
According to the organisation, the public deserves to know the implementation framework, beneficiary selection process, procurement procedures, monitoring mechanisms and financial accountability measures attached to the proposed expenditure.
The group stressed that while youth reorientation initiatives aimed at tackling drug abuse, cultism, youth violence and other social vices are legitimate government objectives, programmes funded with public resources must be implemented through transparent, inclusive and accountable structures that inspire public confidence.
FENRAD specifically urged the authorities to publish details of the implementation framework, criteria for selecting beneficiaries and implementing organisations, procurement process for the musical equipment, quantity and specifications of the equipment, distribution plans and the identities of implementing partners.
“FENRAD demands the release of monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks, alongside periodic financial and performance reports throughout the implementation period.
“Any institution or organisation entrusted with managing public funds for the project, whether governmental, community-based, civil society or faith-based, should be subjected to strict financial reporting obligations, independent audits where necessary and public accountability standards in line with Nigeria’s public finance and procurement laws.
FENRAD also called on the National Assembly, relevant oversight committees and anti-corruption agencies to ensure the intervention complies with due process, established procurement procedures and the principles of value for money,” Nwafor insisted.
The group noted that since implementation has not yet commenced, there remains an opportunity for the authorities to review the implementation framework or, where legally permissible, redirect the funds through a virement to projects with greater developmental impact.
It suggested that such funds could be channelled towards youth skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support, drug rehabilitation programmes, digital innovation hubs, educational infrastructure, sports development and other community empowerment initiatives.
Reaffirming its commitment to promoting good governance and responsible public financial management, FENRAD said transparency remains the foundation of public trust, insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to know how public resources are allocated, managed and utilised.
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