Why My Ministry Plans to Spend Over N300m on Furniture in 2025 – Humanitarian Minister

Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, has clarified the rationale behind his ministry’s proposed expenditure of over N300 million on furniture in the 2025 budget. The minister provided these details during an interview on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Addressing concerns over the large allocation amidst Nigeria’s economic challenges, Yilwatda explained that the funds are primarily intended to furnish offices for newly created agencies under the ministry and to accommodate recent relocations. He noted that agencies such as the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA) lacked existing office spaces or furniture, necessitating new provisions.

The minister further disclosed that his ministry itself has been relocated to a new floor within the Ministry of Communications building, which also requires furnishing. “We have new agencies coming up, like NSIPA, that don’t have accommodations. Even my ministry has been relocated. We are refurnishing the new offices and equipping spaces for these agencies,” he stated.

Despite the significant allocation for furniture, Yilwatda emphasized that the majority of the ministry’s budget—over N500 billion—remains dedicated to direct interventions for Nigerians. He highlighted key projects, including school feeding programs, cash transfers, and grants for vulnerable groups, which he said form the core of the ministry’s humanitarian efforts.

Prof. Yilwatda was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, following the suspension of Beta Edu due to allegations of financial misappropriation.