The senate on Tuesday queried Lai Mohammed, minister of information, culture and tourism, over the poor revenue generated from the culture and entertainment industry in 2016 and misappropriation of funds.

During a budget defence session on Tuesday, the senate committee on culture and tourism lamented that the ministry presented only N620,000 as total revenue generated in 2016.

Matthew Urhoghide, chairman, senate committee on culture and tourism, said the senate was displeased with the figure.

“Budget is not just about expenditure. No one is talking about revenue. We need revenue profile. Each time you come, only expenditure is mentioned. How can you say is N620,000.00 that was raised by your ministry from the culture sector?

“We must exhaust all the avenues to generate funds internally. We seriously frown at the low and poor IGR. We query it. You must look inward because this is not acceptable,” he said.

Urhoghide also queried the minister for misdirecting funds budgeted for land acquisition saying that the senate budgeted N60m to acquire lands in Lagos, Adamawa and Edo states to establish cultural industries.

He said Mohammed used the money released to acquire lands in only Lagos and Adamawa states, adding that the minister reduced the states to three when the initial budget was supposed to accommodate six states.

Mohammed defended his ministry by saying that the budget wasn’t properly implemented due to inadequate appropriation and delay in the release of funds, cumbersome nature of procurement process, and the challenge of partial release of appropriated amount.

He called for the placement of culture and tourism on the residual list, saying that the current structure makes it difficult for the government to regulate the sector.

“There are several challenges/constraints militating against the smooth implementation of the required programmes/projects. Some of these are inadequate appropriation; delay in the release of funds; cumbersome nature of procurement process; partial release of appropriated amount; late passage of Appropriation Act; placement of culture and tourism on the residual list, which has made it difficult to regulate the sector; lack of political will to develop the sector and absence of convention bureau to attract big-time events to Nigeria as a tourism destination,” he said.

Source: https://www.thecable.ng/senate-queries-lai-mohammed-can-raise-n620k-culture-sector

BUT if its to generate lies,He will run his mouth in trillionz. corrupt liar

His masquerades could only give him N620,000.00 shame!

This is bad news for the masquerade making money Minister.

All talk and no work

He's gotta be kidding

But this is shameful...

But then, it is oga lai

The nigga has never said anything that wasn't a LAI

Even my small 'one man' business generated more revenue that a whole federal ministry ran by Lai Mohammed.

APC is a fraud

please tell lai mohammed to either do better or step aside, how can a whole sector raise N620K? It shows grows incompetence.

Cultural sector budget - N400m as alledged
Revenue generated from cultural sector - N620k

Who is deceiving who.... "oh my God" in asari's voice

saint047:
This is bad news for the masquerade making money Minister.

All talk and no work

Makes Lai a dull person.

undiluted comedy ... which one could see the video

Shouting corruption and past government everyday, when they are also corrupt...throwing stones while living in glass houses. How can you recieve a budget of 100s of millions and you cannot even use it to generate 1 million naira?

When I saw lais letter to borrow a huge amount to go on a pleasure trip, I just knew we are still in the same place.

And the country is in recession. And we are borrowing too.

The Devil himself.

The father of all lairs.

Waiting for Oga Lie to come and give them another Lamba