The Federal Ministry of Works has come under public scrutiny following revelations that it proposed to spend over ₦500 million on training programmes for hairdressers and make-up artists, as well as the supply of grinding machines, motorcycles, mini-vans, and anti-drug abuse sensitisation initiatives in selected states across the country in the 2026 fiscal year.
Details of the proposed expenditures are contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill recently uploaded on the Budget Office of the Federation’s website, according to a report by Vanguard. The budget breakdown, accessed on Wednesday, shows that the projects are distributed across different geopolitical zones and embedded under various empowerment and intervention headings within the Ministry’s budget.
The revelation has sparked debate among policy analysts and members of the public, particularly over the relevance of such items to the statutory mandate of the Ministry of Works, which is primarily responsible for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of federal roads, bridges, and related infrastructure nationwide.
According to the budget document, the proposed expenditures fall under different project codes and descriptions, suggesting constituency based or intervention driven programmes. One of the listed items, under budget code ERGP 12234747, indicates a proposal to supply an unspecified number of grinding machines to women in the Ndokwa/Ukwani Federal Constituency of Delta State in the South South geopolitical zone at a total cost of ₦35 million.
Another ₦35 million allocation is proposed for the training and empowerment of women in hairdressing, make-up, and soap making in the Mikang, Shandam, and Quampan Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the North Central zone. The programme is described as a skills acquisition and empowerment initiative targeted at women in the area.
The budget document further reveals a ₦70 million proposal for the empowerment and training of youths and seven retirees in various skills, including the provision of trade equipment, in Inyamaltu and Deba communities in Gombe State, located in the North East geopolitical zone.
In addition, the Ministry of Works is proposing to spend another ₦70 million on the supply of mini pick-up vans, mini shuttle buses, and motorcycles to constituents in the Abakaliki Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the South East. The project is categorised as an empowerment and mobility support initiative, though specific implementation details were not outlined in the summary provided in the budget document.
Also included in the list is a proposal for training, sensitisation, advocacy, and empowerment of youths in the North Central zone against drug abuse. However, the initiative is listed as taking place in Zamfara State, which is geographically located in the North West. The apparent mismatch between the targeted geopolitical zone and the project location has raised further questions about the coherence and coordination of the proposed interventions.
According to Vanguard, these items are part of several similar proposals embedded within the Ministry’s 2026 budget estimates, collectively amounting to over ₦500 million. The projects appear to be spread across multiple constituencies and states, reflecting a pattern often associated with constituency style interventions rather than core ministerial functions.
Budget experts note that while empowerment programmes and social interventions are not unusual in government budgets, they are typically domiciled within ministries or agencies whose mandates cover social development, youth empowerment, women affairs, or humanitarian services. The inclusion of such projects under the Ministry of Works has therefore raised questions about role clarity and budget prioritisation.
Public finance analysts argue that the growing practice of embedding empowerment and skills acquisition projects within infrastructure focused ministries contributes to budget fragmentation and weakens accountability. They contend that such allocations make it difficult to track outcomes, measure impact, and ensure alignment with sectoral objectives.
The Ministry of Works has not, as of the time of filing this report, issued an official explanation regarding the proposed expenditures. However, similar budgetary provisions in previous years have often been defended by government officials as constituency driven projects inserted during budget preparation and legislative review processes.
Under Nigeria’s budgetary system, ministries frequently serve as implementation vehicles for projects sponsored or influenced by lawmakers, even when such projects fall outside their core technical mandates. This practice, while legally permissible, has remained controversial due to concerns over efficiency, duplication, and value for money.
Civil society organisations monitoring public spending have repeatedly called for stricter adherence to ministerial mandates and clearer justification for empowerment projects. They argue that Nigeria’s persistent infrastructure deficit, including deteriorating federal roads and bridges, makes it imperative for the Ministry of Works to focus its limited resources on core responsibilities.
According to available data, Nigeria faces trillions of naira in road maintenance and rehabilitation needs, with many federal highways in critical condition. Critics therefore question the prioritisation of non-infrastructure related spending at a time when funding gaps remain significant in the works sector.
Supporters of empowerment programmes, however, argue that skills training and equipment provision can contribute to poverty reduction, job creation, and social stability, particularly in underserved communities. They contend that such interventions, if properly implemented and monitored, can complement broader development objectives.
The 2026 Appropriation Bill is currently undergoing legislative consideration, during which lawmakers are expected to scrutinise, amend, and approve budget proposals submitted by ministries, departments, and agencies. It remains unclear whether the contested items will survive the review process unchanged or be adjusted following public and legislative scrutiny.
Budget transparency advocates have welcomed the public availability of detailed budget breakdowns, noting that access to such information enables citizens to engage meaningfully with governance and hold public institutions accountable. They stress that transparency alone is insufficient without robust debate and corrective action where necessary.
As discussions around the 2026 budget continue, the proposals within the Ministry of Works’ estimates have added to broader conversations about fiscal discipline, budget credibility, and the need for clearer separation between infrastructure development and social intervention programmes.
For now, the Ministry’s proposed ₦500 million spending on hairdressing and make-up training, grinding machines, vehicles, and sensitisation programmes remains a subject of public interest and debate, underscoring ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s budgeting process and the balancing of developmental priorities.
