The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has defended the controversial budgetary provision that triggered widespread public outrage over the proposed allocation for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Responding to criticism that followed reports of a ₦1 billion allocation in the proposed 2026 budget, the Deputy Speaker’s office insisted that the provision had been widely misrepresented, maintaining that the intervention is a youth re-orientation and social support programme to be executed through faith-based organisations rather than a direct financial handout to churches.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the office argued that the actual value of the intervention stands at ₦780 million after Value Added Tax (VAT) and other statutory deductions, contrary to reports that ₦1 billion was earmarked solely for church musical instruments.
According to the statement, the programme is intended to reach more than 130 churches across Bende Federal Constituency during its first phase, with each benefiting church expected to receive support valued between ₦5 million and ₦6 million.
The Deputy Speaker’s office explained that Bende Federal Constituency comprises 13 federal wards with over 200 churches, noting that the initial phase would target approximately 10 churches in each ward.
It stated that the intervention is designed to strengthen the capacity of churches to engage young people through moral instruction, character development and community-based enlightenment programmes.
The statement further explained that the funds would be utilised for the procurement of evangelical equipment, including musical instruments and public address systems, to support campaigns against drug abuse, sexual offences, violent crime and other social vices while promoting discipline, peaceful coexistence and responsible citizenship among youths.
Defending the initiative, the Deputy Speaker’s office argued that national development should not be measured solely by investments in physical infrastructure but must also include programmes that strengthen the moral fabric of society.
It maintained that faith-based organisations remain critical partners in community development and youth engagement, adding that similar government interventions had previously been extended to traditional institutions through the construction of town halls and community engagement centres.
The office also insisted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s non-kinetic approach to addressing insecurity and social instability by promoting peace, unity and value-based orientation at the grassroots.
Addressing concerns over the controversial budget line, the Deputy Speaker’s office disclosed that the 2026 budget has not yet entered the implementation stage and that no funds have been released for the project.
It further revealed that a technical error in the description of the budget item had already been identified, adding that a corrigendum had been initiated through the Budget Office and the National Assembly’s Appropriation Committee to correct the procurement description before implementation begins.
The office urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as sensational interpretations of the budget provision, insisting that the programme is not merely about supplying musical instruments but about using trusted community and religious institutions to promote youth re-orientation, social cohesion and moral development across the constituency.
The defence comes amid sustained public scrutiny of the proposed 2026 budget following revelations that the Federal Government earmarked over ₦8 billion for the construction, renovation and equipping of churches and mosques across the country, a development that has continued to fuel debate over government spending priorities in the face of Nigeria’s economic challenges.