National Assembly Committee Summons Minister Musawa to Reappear Over Missing Budget Documents

The Joint Senate and House Committees on Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy have directed the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, to reappear before them on October 27 following her failure to present necessary budget documents.

During an interactive session held on Tuesday and chaired by Senator Ogoshi Onawo, lawmakers expressed disappointment over the ministry’s lack of preparedness for the 2025 budget performance review despite receiving prior notice two months earlier.

Onawo noted that the committee could not proceed without the required documentation, describing the ministry’s unpreparedness as “unacceptable.”

The joint session — comprising four committees — had convened to streamline oversight activities but was forced to adjourn after it became clear that essential records were missing.

Senator Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) moved a motion to adjourn the meeting, stating, “They should go back and get better prepared to enable us to be in tune with whatever records they have.”

Supporting the motion, Senator Pam Dachungyang (Plateau North) added, “It will be wise for you to put your house in order and come next time. We cannot be talking in vacuum — and more so, the documents are not even here.”

Efforts by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed, to convince the lawmakers to proceed were rejected. The committee maintained that it could only carry out a proper assessment of the ministry’s performance once all relevant documents are submitted.

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