Nigeria is preparing for another budget cycle. But many groups say the way budgeting is done does not always meet the needs of everyone. Stakeholders are asking the government to do better. They want budgeting that focuses on fairness and care. This means planning with girls and people with disabilities in mind. They say this kind of budgeting will make resources more equal for all.
Meeting in Kano on Gender Responsive Budgeting
A special one-day meeting on Gender Responsive Education Budgeting (GREB) was held in Kano. It was organized by Bridge Connect Africa and supported by the Malala Foundation.
Stakeholders from the education sector and media joined the meeting. They made it clear that future budgeting should include the needs of the girl-child and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
An education consultant, Yakubu Muhammad Anas, explained the position of the group. He said responsive budgeting is about fairness. It makes sure that every group, especially the most vulnerable, gets what they need.
The Problems With Current Budgeting
Right now, most budgets in Nigeria do not look at the real needs of all groups. This creates problems.
Funds are often given to general programs. But they don’t always address the special needs of girls or people with disabilities. This leads to inequality in education, health, and even jobs.
Stakeholders believe that without gender-responsive budgeting, these gaps will continue to grow.
Women’s Economic Empowerment and Budgeting
The Federal Government’s 2025 Appropriation Bill sets aside some money for Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE). The amount is N148.05 billion, which is a 17.73% rise from the 2024 budget.
But when you compare this to the total budget, it is still very small. WEE makes up only 0.29% of the full budget. Stakeholders worry this is not enough to truly solve gender gaps.
Most of the WEE budget goes to grants (46.3%) and infrastructure (38.69%). Very little goes to health (1.38%), awareness (0.12%), or advocacy. Also, the number of WEE projects has fallen sharply—from 647 in 2024 to only 162 in 2025.
Challenges in Budgeting for Women
Even with the increase, problems remain. WEE projects are spread across many ministries, making them less effective.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs received the largest share. But other key ministries like Health, Sports, Education, and Agriculture also need to work together. Without good data and careful planning, budgeting will not bring real change.
Conclusion
Stakeholders want Nigeria to make budgeting fairer and more inclusive. They believe gender responsive budgeting will help address the needs of girls, women, and people with disabilities. This is the only way budgeting can truly support equality and growth.
At Genderpedia.ng, we believe that budgeting should serve everyone. Gender responsive budgeting is the key to fairness and progress for Nigeria.
