GOMEP-NG Challenges Benjamin Kalu Over ₦780m Church Budget

As Nigerians continue to battle rising living costs, unemployment, and worsening economic hardship, fresh controversy has erupted over the Federal Government’s allocation of ₦780 million for evangelical musical instruments and public address systems for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State. The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) says the explanation offered by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has failed to address critical questions about transparency, accountability, and public spending.

The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has questioned Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu over the ₦780 million budgeted for evangelical musical instruments and public address systems for churches in Bende Federal Constituency. The Guild is demanding a detailed budget breakdown, procurement records, beneficiary lists, implementation timeline, and an independent audit to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

ABUJA — The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has raised serious concerns over the clarification issued by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, regarding the controversial ₦780 million budgetary allocation for the procurement of evangelical musical instruments and public address systems for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.

Although the Deputy Speaker clarified that the approved allocation is ₦780 million, and not ₦1 billion as earlier reported in some quarters, GOMEP-NG said the revised figure does little to ease growing public concerns over the project’s purpose, transparency, and justification.

In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Akpovoke Otiti, the Guild said the explanation has “generated more questions than answers,” particularly at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with economic hardship, rising inflation, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and declining public services.

According to GOMEP-NG, public office holders have a constitutional obligation to ensure prudent management of taxpayers’ money. Therefore, every expenditure funded from the national budget must be transparent, accountable, and clearly beneficial to the public.

Consequently, the Guild called on the Deputy Speaker to provide comprehensive answers to several key questions in the interest of openness and responsible governance.

Among the issues raised are:

Can your office publish the original budget line and provide a comprehensive breakdown of the ₦780 million allocation?

Why was a faith-based intervention selected as the primary strategy for youth reorientation instead of investing in schools, vocational centres, youth organisations, skills acquisition programmes, or broader community development initiatives?

What empirical evidence supports the claim that supplying evangelical musical instruments and public address systems will significantly reduce drug abuse, sexual offences, cultism, and other social vices?
How much of the ₦780 million will be spent specifically on musical instruments and sound equipment, and what other items make up the allocation?

What criteria will be used to select the proposed 130 beneficiary churches from the more than 200 churches reportedly operating within Bende Federal Constituency?
Will the names of all beneficiary churches and the exact amount allocated to each be made available to the public?
Who will handle the procurement process, and what safeguards have been established to ensure strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act and guarantee value for money?

Will all contracts awarded under the programme be publicly disclosed for independent scrutiny?
Does the intervention extend to mosques and other faith-based organisations, or is it exclusively for churches? If limited to churches, how does the programme comply with the constitutional principle of religious neutrality?
What measurable performance indicators will be used to determine whether the programme successfully reduces crime and other social vices among young people?

What monitoring framework has been established to prevent diversion of the equipment, misuse of public assets, or political patronage?

Why should taxpayers regard this project as a higher priority than investments in healthcare, education, roads, youth employment, skills acquisition, and other essential public services?

Were community leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, religious leaders, and other stakeholders consulted before approving the intervention?
Is the project a one-off constituency intervention or part of a recurring budgetary framework?
Will your office support an independent audit of the programme and make the audit findings publicly available upon completion? The union queried.

GOMEP-NG stressed that these questions are “not intended to undermine the Deputy Speaker or any faith-based organisation” but are necessary in a democratic society where elected officials remain accountable for the management of public resources.

The Guild further urged the Deputy Speaker to publish all relevant project documents, including procurement records, implementation timelines, contractor details, beneficiary lists, monitoring mechanisms, and expenditure reports to strengthen public confidence.

“At a time when Nigerians are making enormous economic sacrifices, every naira appropriated from public funds must not only be lawful but must also be seen to serve the overriding public interest,” Otiti stated.

The Guild reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, ethical journalism, and constructive engagement with public institutions, insisting that open governance remains essential for strengthening public trust and democratic accountability.