The Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism has expressed worry over the meager amount allocated to agencies under the culture sector, saying there is no way such agencies can be blamed for not meeting their targets.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo made this known when Chief Executives of agencies under the sector appeared before the Committee at the National Assembly Complex to defend their respective budgets for the year 2025.
He lamented that as one of the most important sectors of the economy, the culture sector is yet to receive the appropriate attention it deserves from government. “I don’t see how an agency can be created and no single kobo is given to them from January to December. This is one of the most important sectors of the economy but unfortunately, it is not being given the attention it deserves”.
“Each of the agencies here is capable of generating billions but unfortunately, they cannot do that because they are not properly funded. As a responsible parliament, there is no way we will accept the burden placed on these agencies without adequate funds to operate. The Committee for now is not accepting the envelops given to each of the agencies. This is very sad”.
“If you look at the envelop given to each of them, you will agree with me that it is a far cry but we will sit down and discuss how best to go about it”, he said.
The Committee therefore resolved to present the sad situation of low budgetary allocation to culture agencies before the National Assembly through the President of the Senate to see how their budgets can be reviewed.
Earlier while presenting the budget for the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Executive Secretary/CEO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye lamented seriously over the regrettable relegation of culture, saying “any country without respect for its culture can never grow”. He therefore assured the eminent lawmakers that the Institute is determined to push culture to the core of policy making and boost international cultural diplomacy.
Other Chief Executives of Culture agencies present at the budget defense were the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Obi Asika; Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM); Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Shaibu Husseini; Managing Director, National Film Corporation (NFC), Ali Nuhu; Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Hajia Kaltume Bulama Gana, and Aisha Augie, the Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC).
Caleb Nor
Media Asst.-ES
NICO, Abuja.