The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has clarified that it has not breached its budget regarding solar power provision.
The ministry’s media office in a statement on Thursday expressed regrets over “inaccuracies and misrepresentations regarding our 2024 budget. In the interest of transparency and clarity, we are providing accurate information to dispel any misconceptions.”
According to the stayement, the ministry’s 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.”
The statement further stated that, “regarding constituency projects, we would like to emphasize that these initiatives aim to deliver tangible benefits and positively impact local communities.
“The provision of rural roads and solar-powered lights is designed to empower and open up communities for economic growth. These projects are part of our 2024 budget, signed by President Bola Tinubu in January.
“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.
“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.”