Senate Decries Insufficient Funding For Environmental Agencies

The Senate Committee on Environment has canvassed for adequate funding of environmental agencies in the country.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Ned Nwoko who canvassed for more funding for the environmental agencies during 2025 budget defence of the agencies described the situation of poor funding as “inhuman”.

According to the lawmaker, over 5,000 Nigerians have faced salary delays due to these financial constraints.

The lawmaker expressed a commitment to increasing budgetary allocations for environmental initiatives, emphasizing the need for effective resource allocation to combat climate issues and enhance community awareness.

Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, the Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), who reported that the agency’s staff have not received salaries since January 1, 2024 with 13 other professional bodies being initially excluded from budgetary allocations expressed dissatisfaction that while the other bodies have since been reinstated, EHCON remains without funding.

In the light of these concerns, Mahmud Adam Kambari, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, assured that steps are being taken to resolve the funding issues as the matter has been escalated to both the President and the National Assembly for urgent attention.

The Senate Committee on Environment is therefore advocating for better funding and support for environmental agencies like EHCON, highlighting the critical impact of financial constraints on public service delivery and environmental management in Nigeria.

James Itodo, Edited By Grace Namiji