The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed reports claiming that ₦1 billion was allocated in the proposed 2026 budget for the purchase of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the office described the reports as misleading, explaining that the budget provision is part of a broader Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations.
According to the statement, the actual allocation for the programme is ₦780 million after Value Added Tax (VAT) and other statutory deductions—not ₦1 billion as widely reported.
The office stressed that the funds are not solely for the purchase of musical instruments, but for youth-focused community programmes aimed at addressing social challenges.
It explained that beneficiary churches would receive equipment such as evangelical musical instruments and public address systems to support campaigns against drug abuse, sexual offences, violent crimes and other social vices.
According to the Deputy Speaker’s office, Bende Federal Constituency has 13 electoral wards and over 200 churches, with about 130 churches expected to benefit from the first phase of the programme.
Each selected church is expected to receive between ₦5 million and ₦6 million to support youth engagement and community outreach initiatives.
The statement argued that government investments should extend beyond physical infrastructure to include programmes that promote moral values, discipline and character development.
It also noted that similar faith-based youth development initiatives have been implemented in other parts of the country and described the Bende programme as part of efforts to strengthen community-based value orientation.
The Deputy Speaker’s office further clarified that the 2026 Appropriation Act has not yet been implemented, as the Federal Government is still operating under the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
It added that no funds have been released for the programme and that beneficiary churches would only be contacted after the budget is approved, funds are released and procurement procedures are completed.
The office also disclosed that a technical error was identified in the budget description and that steps have been taken to correct it through the appropriate budgetary process.
It urged the public to disregard what it described as sensational reports and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
