Deputy Speaker clarifies ₦1 billion vote for Bende church instruments

Nigeria's Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has addressed recent media reports misrepresenting a ₦1 billion allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Bill. The funds, designated for his Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, are not solely for church musical instruments as suggested. Kalu clarified that the provision is intended for a comprehensive "Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme" delivered through faith-based organizations using an evangelistic approach.

Following Value-Added Tax and other deductions, the actual allocation stands at ₦780 million. This initiative aims to support approximately 130 churches across the constituency's 13 wards. Each church is expected to receive between ₦5 million and ₦6 million to expand platforms focused on character reform and community outreach. The goal is to strengthen campaigns against social vices like narcotics, sexual offenses, and violent crimes by providing evangelical tools and public address systems.

Kalu's office emphasized that nation-building requires investing in people's character and value systems, not just physical infrastructure. They acknowledged a "technical error" in the budget document's description and confirmed that a letter of corrigendum has been initiated to correct the entry before implementation. The office also stressed that the 2026 budget has not yet been funded, meaning no funds or equipment have been disbursed to any churches to date. They urged the public to disregard sensational reports and affirmed their openness to scrutiny.

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Nation-building must go beyond roads and physical infrastructure. Government must also invest in building the character and value system of the people who use the infrastructure using various value-delivery platforms.