Tensions have risen between the National Assembly and civic tech organisation BudgIT over the insertion of over 11,000 projects valued at N6.93 trillion into the 2025 Appropriation Bill. BudgIT alleges these projects were not part of the original budget submitted by the Executive and do not align with Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025).
In a damning report released Tuesday, BudgIT accused lawmakers of turning the national budget into a tool for political patronage and personal gain. The group highlighted 238 projects valued above N5 billion each, totalling N2.29 trillion, inserted without clear justification.
BudgIT also flagged:
- 984 projects worth N1.71 trillion,
- 1,119 projects ranging between N500 million to N1 billion (totaling N641.38 billion), and
- A total of 1,477 street light projects costing N393.29 billion.
Additional anomalies included 538 boreholes budgeted at N114.53 billion, 2,122 ICT-related projects at N505.79 billion, and a staggering N6.74 billion for the “empowerment of traditional rulers.”
One of the most shocking revelations was the alleged insertion of 4,371 projects (39% of all insertions) worth N1.72 trillion into the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget, inflating its capital allocation from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion. The Ministries of Science and Technology, and Budget and Economic Planning, also reportedly received budget inflations of N994.98 billion and N1.1 trillion, respectively.
BudgIT condemned the misuse of agencies such as the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, which were allegedly burdened with projects beyond their mandates, including rural electrification and distribution of utility vehicles.
Despite the outcry, the Presidency has remained silent, with BudgIT noting that earlier letters submitted to relevant government bodies received no response.
BudgIT: “This Is Budget Abuse”
Speaking on the findings, Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Country Director, called the alleged insertions “an assault on fiscal responsibility.”
“Nigeria cannot afford a government of projects without purpose. This undermines development, erodes public trust, and misallocates scarce resources,” Okeowo stated.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assert executive leadership and reform the budget process to prevent what BudgIT calls “politically motivated exploitation.”
The organisation also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to seek a constitutional interpretation on the limits of the National Assembly’s powers in altering the national budget, and encouraged anti-graft agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the alleged abuses.
National Assembly Responds: “We Did Nothing Wrong”
Both chambers of the National Assembly swiftly denied the allegations, maintaining that they acted within their constitutional mandate to review, amend, and approve the national budget.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), spokesperson for the Senate, dismissed the claims as “spurious,” accusing BudgIT of spreading “irreverent propaganda.”
“The 2025 budget was interrogated and passed based on the exact amount presented by the executive,” he said.
Rep. Clement Jimbo, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, echoed similar sentiments, saying the criticisms are rooted in “ignorance of legislative procedures.”
“The budget presented by the Executive is merely an estimate. The National Assembly has the constitutional right to make additions or subtractions as necessary. We are not rubber stamps,” Jimbo stressed.
He refuted claims that individual lawmakers could unilaterally divert funds, saying budget reviews are handled by nearly 200 specialised committees in collaboration with MDAs.
“I’ve been part of the 2023, 2024, and now 2025 budget process. I have never witnessed individual diversions or unilateral padding,” Jimbo stated.
Calls for Reform Grow
As the dust settles on this heated exchange, civil society groups, media professionals, and citizens are being urged to demand greater transparency and a people-centered budgeting process.
BudgIT’s campaign, “The Budget is a Mess”, may have reignited a critical national conversation on accountability, governance, and public finance reform in Nigeria.
“This is not just about numbers,” Okeowo said. “It’s a matter of justice, equity, and the future of accountable governance.”
