My office allocated N780m, not N1bn, for church outreach – Deputy Speaker Kalu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed reports claiming that his office allocated N1 billion in the 2026 budget for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.
Kalu clarified that the actual allocation is N780 million, describing reports of a N1 billion budget as inaccurate and a misrepresentation of both the amount approved and the purpose of the intervention.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker explained that the budget provision, after Value Added Tax and other statutory deductions, stands at N780 million and is intended to fund a youth reorientation and social support programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations.
According to him, the intervention is aimed at supporting the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to facilitate campaigns against social vices such as drug abuse, sexual offences and violent crimes, while promoting discipline, moral values, peace and character development among young people.
“The funds are intended to support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to promote campaigns against vices like the spread of narcotics, sexual offences and violent crimes while instilling discipline, values, peace and character development among young people in the communities,” the statement read.
Kalu noted that Bende Federal Constituency comprises 13 electoral wards and more than 200 churches, adding that the first phase of the programme would cover 130 churches.
He explained that the intervention would target about 10 churches in each ward, with each beneficiary church receiving support valued at between N5 million and N6 million.
“Bende has 13 federal political/electoral wards and over 200 churches. The first phase of this support targets 130 of these churches, averaging about 10 churches per ward, which amounts to approximately N5 million to N6 million per church,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker stressed that the programme is not solely about procuring musical instruments but about strengthening existing youth engagement platforms run by churches to promote moral values, foster unity and discourage anti-social behaviour.
“This intervention is not about instruments alone. It is about leveraging trusted community value-sustaining structures to reorient our youths, promote unity and sustain moral instruction across the constituency,” Kalu stated.
He further disclosed that implementation of the 2026 budget has yet to commence and that beneficiary churches would be notified after the procurement process is completed.
Kalu also revealed that his office had initiated a corrigendum to correct what it described as a technical error in the procurement description before implementation.
He urged the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that N1 billion was allocated solely for the purchase of church musical instruments, insisting that the intervention forms part of a broader programme aimed at youth development, social reorientation and community value promotion.