By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has defended the controversial N780 million budgetary provision for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State alleging an error in description.
The Deputy Speaker clarified that that the allocation is intended to support youth reorientation and community development rather than the procurement of musical instruments as widely reported.
The clarification follows media reports alleging that N1 billion was inserted into the 2026 budget solely for the purchase of musical instruments for churches in the constituency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu’s office described the reports as a misrepresentation of the budget provision, while also disclosing that a technical error in the procurement description had been identified and would be corrected before implementation.
According to the statement, the actual provision stands at N780 million after Value Added Tax (VAT) and other statutory deductions and is earmarked for a Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations in Bende Federal Constituency.
“The intervention is not about instruments alone. It is about leveraging trusted community value-sustaining structures to reorient our youths, promote unity and sustain moral instruction across the constituency,” the statement read.
The Deputy Speaker’s office explained that Bende Federal Constituency has 13 electoral wards and more than 200 churches, with the first phase of the programme expected to benefit about 130 churches, averaging 10 churches in each ward.
It said each selected church would receive between N5 million and N6 million to strengthen youth engagement initiatives and community outreach programmes.
According to the statement, the funds will be used to procure evangelical instruments and public address systems to support campaigns against drug abuse, sexual offences and violent crimes, while promoting discipline, peace and positive values among young people.
The office argued that nation-building requires investment not only in physical infrastructure but also in moral and character development, describing the initiative as part of the government’s non-kinetic approach to promoting peace and social cohesion.
It also noted that similar support has been extended to traditional institutions through the provision of town halls and community engagement centres, maintaining that faith-based organisations equally play a critical role in promoting societal values.
Addressing concerns over the budget, Kalu’s office stressed that the 2026 Appropriation Act has not yet been implemented, noting that the Federal Government is still operating the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
It added that no releases have been made for the 2026 budget and that procurement processes would only commence after the necessary funding approvals.
The statement further disclosed that a corrigendum had been initiated through the Budget Office and the National Assembly‘s appropriation committee to correct the procurement description before implementation.
The Deputy Speaker’s office urged the media and the public to disregard what it described as sensational reports and support initiatives aimed at strengthening both infrastructure and character development across communities.