The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed reports that his office allocated N1 billion in the 2026 budget for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu stated that the actual allocation is N780 million.

According to the deputy speaker, the reports misrepresented both the amount allocated and the purpose of the intervention.

He said that the budget provision, after Value Added Tax and other statutory deductions, stands at N780 million and is intended to support a youth re-orientation and social support programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations.

“The funds are intended to support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to promote campaigns against vices like the spread of narcotics, sexual offences, and violent crimes while instilling discipline, values, peace and character development among young people in the communities,” the statement read.

Kalu explained that Bende Federal Constituency has 13 electoral wards and more than 200 churches, adding that the first phase of the programme would cover 130 churches.

“Bende has 13 federal political/electoral wards and over 200 churches. The first phase of this support targets 130 of these churches, averaging about 10 churches per ward, which amounts to approximately N5 million to N6 million per church,” he said.

The deputy speaker said the intervention was aimed at strengthening existing youth engagement platforms run by churches to promote moral values and discourage social vices.

“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,” he said.

Kalu added that the 2026 budget had not yet been implemented and that beneficiary churches would be notified after the procurement process was completed.

He also disclosed that his office had initiated a corrigendum to correct what it described as a technical error in the procurement description before implementation.

The deputy speaker urged the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that N1 billion had been allocated solely for musical instruments, saying the intervention was part of a broader effort to promote youth development and community values. (PUNCH)

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