Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed reports alleging that his office earmarked N1 billion in the 2026 federal budget for the purchase of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, describing the claims as misleading and a misrepresentation of the actual budgetary provision.
Kalu clarified that the amount approved for the initiative is N780 million after statutory deductions, and not N1 billion as widely reported in sections of the media.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, who explained that the budgetary allocation was designed to fund a broader youth re-orientation and social support initiative to be implemented through faith-based organisations across the constituency.
According to the statement, the intervention is intended to strengthen community-based programmes that promote moral values, discourage criminal behaviour and provide positive engagement opportunities for young people.
The deputy speaker maintained that reports suggesting the allocation was solely for the procurement of musical instruments failed to accurately capture the objectives and scope of the programme.
He explained that after the deduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) and other statutory charges, the actual amount available for implementation stands at approximately N780 million.
“The funds are intended to support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to promote campaigns against vices such as the abuse of narcotic substances, sexual offences, violent crimes and other social challenges while instilling discipline, peace, moral values and positive character development among young people within the communities,” the statement said.
Kalu noted that churches have historically played significant roles in community development, youth mentorship and moral instruction, making them suitable partners for programmes aimed at promoting social cohesion and reducing youth involvement in criminal activities.
He explained that the intervention seeks to leverage existing church structures to expand value-based education and community engagement initiatives rather than simply distributing musical equipment.
According to the deputy speaker, Bende Federal Constituency comprises 13 electoral wards and has more than 200 churches spread across its communities.
He disclosed that the first phase of the programme would benefit about 130 churches, representing an average of 10 churches in each electoral ward.
He stated that based on the projected allocation, each beneficiary church would receive support valued at between N5 million and N6 million.
“Bende has 13 federal political and electoral wards and over 200 churches. The first phase of this intervention targets 130 churches, averaging approximately 10 churches per ward, which translates to between N5 million and N6 million worth of support for each church,” Kalu explained.
He stressed that the intervention should not be viewed merely as the purchase of musical instruments but as a comprehensive community engagement programme designed to strengthen existing platforms used by religious institutions to influence young people positively.
According to him, churches remain among the most trusted institutions in many rural and urban communities, making them effective partners in promoting peace, discipline and responsible citizenship.
“This intervention is not about instruments alone. It is about leveraging trusted community value-sustaining structures to reorient our youths, promote unity and sustain moral instruction across the constituency,” the deputy speaker stated.
He added that the programme would provide public address systems and other communication tools that would assist churches in carrying out campaigns against social vices, drug abuse, cultism, violence and other behaviours that threaten community stability.
Kalu further clarified that the 2026 Appropriation Act has not yet entered the implementation stage, meaning no procurement has been carried out and no church has received any allocation under the programme.
He assured constituents that all beneficiary institutions would be duly notified after the appropriate procurement processes had been completed in accordance with relevant government regulations.
The deputy speaker also disclosed that his office had already initiated a corrigendum to address what it described as a technical error in the procurement description contained in the budget documents.
According to him, the correction was intended to ensure that the description accurately reflected the broader objectives of the intervention before implementation begins.
He noted that the amendment would eliminate any ambiguity surrounding the project and prevent further misunderstanding about the purpose of the allocation.
Kalu urged members of the public to disregard reports claiming that N1 billion had been budgeted exclusively for the procurement of musical instruments for churches.
He maintained that such reports ignored the wider context of the programme, which is designed to support youth development, moral education and community engagement through established faith-based institutions.
The deputy speaker emphasised that his office remains committed to initiatives that promote peace, social stability and human capital development within Bende Federal Constituency.
He argued that addressing the rising challenges of youth unemployment, substance abuse, criminality and declining moral values requires collaborative efforts involving government, religious organisations and community leaders.
According to him, investing in preventive community programmes is often more effective than dealing with the consequences of crime and social dislocation.
Kalu also appealed to journalists and members of the public to verify budgetary information before drawing conclusions, stressing that accurate reporting is essential to fostering informed public discourse and preventing the spread of misinformation.
He reiterated that the intervention forms part of broader constituency development initiatives aimed at improving social welfare and empowering communities through partnerships with credible grassroots institutions.
The deputy speaker assured constituents that transparency and accountability would guide every stage of the project’s implementation, including procurement, beneficiary selection and programme execution.
He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting initiatives that improve the welfare of young people, strengthen community institutions and contribute to sustainable development across Bende Federal Constituency and Abia State.
Kalu concluded by insisting that the programme should be viewed as an investment in youth re-orientation and community development rather than a simple procurement of church equipment, urging Nigerians to assess the initiative based on its intended social impact rather than misleading interpretations of the budget provision.
