Minister of Women Affairs Kennedy-Ohanenye Justifies Expenditure on Fuel, New Year Party

Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has defended the expenditure of her ministry, noting that most of the expenses were approved by the past administration before she resumed office. She made this known while speaking on Monday night on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program.

“Last year’s budget was not done while I was there. All the contracts were also not awarded while I was there. Most of them were awarded in March and the contract money was released in May before I arrived in August,” she explained.

She added that many contracts had not been executed when she assumed office, and the ministry faced significant liabilities due to underfunding.

The statement follows a contentious exchange with members of the House of Representatives, who scrutinised the ministry’s spending, including N45 million for a New Year party, N20 million for sanitary pads, and the N1.5 million fuel cost.

Speaking about the N1.5 million on fuel for her convoy during a trip to Anambra State. She expressed disbelief that lawmakers questioned the fuel expense, asserting the cost was justified given the current fuel prices and the number of vehicles involved.

“I travelled with the staff in the bus, two security vehicles, one DSS and one police, my vehicle, the backup, and the other one. About six vehicles went all the way to Anambra State for a job and we came back. What is N1.5 million for those cars?” she remarked.

She also emphasised that the budget had been approved before her tenure began, thus absolving herself of responsibility for the expenditures in question.

Addressing the N45 million spent on a New Year party, the minister clarified that the event took place before her appointment.

“They invited about 33 schools and thousands of children were there. They provided transport to every school coming and gave each student a school bag that cost about N15,000 each. There were a lot of other things inside the bag. They were equally given food,” she elaborated.

Kennedy-Ohanenye stressed that these expenditures reflected the previous administration’s approach, which she would not have tolerated.

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