The report that the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy are in the process of installing N290m solar power in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State where its Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, hails from, has drawn reactions from the ministry.
In a shock belief bordering on overreaching itself in issue of projects that do not fall under its purview and somehow a conflict of interest, the Ministery earmarked the said sum in the minister’s local government for the aforementioned projects.
The account was brought to light by Daily Trust.
Reacting to it, in a statement its Permanent Secretary, Mr. James Sule, authored, it explained it away saying, “As reported by Daily Trust in their publication ‘Culture Ministry Votes N290m For Solar Streetlights in Minister’s LGA’ by Philip Shimnom Clement on May 22, 2024, we reiterate that the Cultural and Creative Economy is an emerging innovative catalyst requiring strategic projects to create jobs, attract inbound visitors, contribute to the nation’s GDP, and enhance local opportunities.
“While we encourage public scrutiny of government budgetary affairs, we also stress the importance of responsible assessments. Distorting, exaggerating, or falsifying facts can hinder progress and development.
“We hope this clarification provides a better understanding of our budget and initiatives. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.”
The defence also read: “The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy wishes to address a recent online publication that contained inaccuracies and misrepresentations regarding our 2024 budget. In the interest of transparency and clarity, we are providing accurate information to dispel any misconceptions.
“As part of the 2024 Appropriation Act, our ministry’s full budget breakdown has been publicly available. Regrettably, the publication in question misrepresented facts to suit their intentions, potentially causing public alarm. We believe it is essential to educate the public on budget processes and implementation to prevent such misinterpretations.
“Our budget allocation for Research and Development (Budget Code: 23050101) amounts to N3,709,755,673, encompassing various developmental programs and projects within our ministry’s mandate. The total appropriation for our ministry in 2024 is N6,686,720,656.00, comprising N6,107,137,152.00 for Capital Expenditure and N579,583,504.00 for Recurrent Expenditures.”
