The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has revealed the challenges encountered in accessing adequate funding for its 2025 budget.

The Ministry emphasized the need for greater support to deliver programs for women, children, and vulnerable populations.

The Women Affairs Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, at the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development 2026 budget defense, stated that no funds were received from international donors in 2025.

She also noted a lack of coordination and accountability among non-governmental organizations, NGOs, and civil society organizations, CSOs, which sometimes, access resources intended for public programs without oversight. The minister stressed the need for regulations to ensure proper use of funds and maximize impact.

Reviewing the 2025 budget performance, Sulaiman-Ibrahim reported that out of a total appropriation of ₦2.06 billion, ₦1.9 billion was released for personnel (99.9%), ₦470 million for overhead (16.78%), and ₦39.29 million for capital (0.4%). She said that an additional 30 per cent release for capital is still expected, while an approved intervention of ₦450 million from the Ministry of Finance has mostly been utilized.

For 2026, the ministry proposed a total budget of ₦134 billion to address gaps from 2025 and strengthen program delivery across local governments.

Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, emphasized the importance of evaluation of past performance, assessing ongoing programs, and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable empowerment for women and girls across Nigeria.