ABUJA – A review of the 2025 budget has revealed that the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, has allocated N300 million for projects unrelated to its core mandate, including rice distribution and the provision of fishing nets in Bayelsa State.
According to the budget item coded “ERGP20257419,” NICO will spend N200 million to distribute rice to constituents in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State. Additionally, N100 million has been earmarked for purchasing fishing nets and accessories to empower local fishermen in the same constituency.
Budget Raises Questions on Mandate
A review of NICO’s official functions reveals that such expenditures do not align with its core responsibilities. The institute, as established by law, is mandated to promote and revive Nigerian culture, educate citizens on cultural values, and facilitate enlightenment on national cultural issues.
Despite this, the 2025 budget also includes provisions for constructing roads, installing solar lights, and rehabilitating classrooms—projects traditionally outside the scope of cultural orientation.
While N200 million is allocated for rice distribution, only N25 million has been set aside for the “Nigeria Indigenous Language Program,” and N30 million for a seminar on values, ethics, and managing cultural diversity across six geopolitical zones.
Additionally, an annual roundtable on cultural orientation has a budget of N25 million—a fraction of the amount allocated for unrelated projects.
Broader Budget Concerns
The review also highlights similar questionable allocations in other government agencies. The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has budgeted N2 billion for land and bush-clearing activities, with N500 million earmarked for land clearing in Osun State and N300 million for horticulture cluster development in selected states.
Other budgetary allocations include:
– N400 million for constructing an access road in Akpa/Agudu Federal Constituency
– N400 million for motorcycles in Isa Sabo Birni Federal Constituency, Sokoto State
– N100 million for school furniture in Jigawa South Senatorial District
Calls for Accountability
The inclusion of projects outside NICO’s mandate has raised concerns among analysts and civil society groups, who argue that such budget allocations divert resources from essential cultural initiatives.
As scrutiny over the 2025 budget intensifies, stakeholders are calling on the government to ensure that agencies stick to their legally defined roles, promoting transparency and accountability in public spending.
