The Senate Committee on Communications Thursday faulted zero capital allocation to the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) in the 2022 budget.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, had told the Senate panel during budget defence session that out of the total budget profile of N160.593bn, the ministry got N86.4bn; NIGCOMSAT, N8.2bn; NIPOST, N13.1bn and NIMC, N52.7bn.
He, however, said zero capital allocation was proposed for NIPOST out of the N137.2bn capital expenditure earmarked for the ministry and all other parastatals under it.
The committee, not satisfied with the proposal, said it was wrong for the agency not to be given any capital vote in the 2022 fiscal year.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who chaired the panel, asked the minister whether the zero capital allocation proposed for NIPOST in 2022 was based on none request by the agency or lack of fund.
The committee, she added, might have to appropriate something for the agency if there is no solid reason for the zero allocation.
Responding, the minister said he was not against the committee taking about N200m from ministry’s N85.231bn capital vote for NIPOST.
