By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has appeared before the Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to defend the Agency’s budget estimates for the 2025 fiscal year.
The joint sitting was composed of members of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, chaired by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, and the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, chaired by Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey. Senator Lawan presided over the session, with Hon. Bassey serving as Co-Chair.
During her presentation, the DG NEMA provided updates on the performance of the 2024 approved budget and outlined the Agency’s proposed allocations for 2025, justifying the estimates based on the Agency’s strategic goals and operational needs.
Following the presentation, the members of the Committees engaged in discussions about the estimates, culminating in the adoption of a motion for further legislative actions to review the allocations to NEMA for disaster management.
The Lawmakers praised NEMA’s accomplishments in 2024, while also stressing the importance of boosting support to strengthen the agency’s emergency response capabilities and disaster management effectiveness nationwide.