Kalu denies N1bn church instrument claim, says budget allocation is N780m

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has denied reports that his office earmarked N1 billion in the 2026 budget for the purchase 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 clarified that the actual allocation is N780 million, not N1 billion, and said the reports misrepresented both the amount and the purpose of the intervention.

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

According to the statement, the funds will be used to procure evangelical instruments and public address systems to support campaigns against drug abuse, sexual offences, violent crimes and other social vices, while promoting discipline, peace, moral values and character development among young people.

Kalu said Bende Federal Constituency comprises 13 electoral wards and more than 200 churches, with the first phase of the intervention targeting 130 churches.

He noted that the allocation translates to about N5 million to N6 million for each of the selected churches, averaging roughly 10 churches in each ward.

The deputy speaker stressed that the initiative extends beyond the purchase of musical equipment, describing it as an investment in existing youth engagement platforms operated by churches to promote positive values and discourage criminal behaviour.

“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 also clarified that the 2026 budget is yet to be implemented and that beneficiary churches would be notified after the procurement process is completed.

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

The deputy speaker urged the public to disregard reports claiming that N1 billion was budgeted solely for church musical instruments, insisting that the allocation forms part of a broader youth development and community values programme.