🔥 Trending Permanent Secretary Blocks Tinubu-Approved Funds for Nigerian Agencies

The Permanent Secretary in Nigeria's Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Binyerem Ukaire, has reportedly blocked the release of funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for agencies under the ministry ¹².

Background of the Situation

President Bola Tinubu had approved funds for various agencies, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) ². These approvals were made approximately three weeks prior to the reports of the blockage ².

Reason for the Blockage

Sources indicate that the delay in releasing these funds stems from a dispute. Permanent Secretary Ukaire allegedly demanded that the heads of the affected agencies present detailed plans outlining how they intended to use the approved funds ². This requirement seems to be the primary reason for the hold-up, preventing the funds from reaching the intended recipients despite presidential approval ².

Wider Context of Financial Scrutiny

This incident occurs amidst broader discussions and criticisms regarding financial management and budget allocations under the Tinubu administration in 2026. For instance, there have been allegations of budget padding, fictitious projects, and questionable expenditures in the proposed 2026 Federal Budget, which critics like former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, describe as a failure of governance ⁵. Additionally, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the administration's allocation of ₦22.15 billion for a presidential palace, labeling it unconstitutional ⁷. These instances highlight an environment of increased scrutiny over public funds and their disbursement.