By Temi Olowu
BudgIT, a civic advocacy organization known for its efforts to promote transparency in government spending, has raised concerns about alleged budget padding in the National Assembly, specifically pointing to questionable allocations within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s budget.
In a post shared on its social media platform, the organization questioned the inclusion of N1 billion for the construction of sports complexes and N1.5 billion for road repairs in Ikorodu, Lagos—items that appear unrelated to the ministry’s mandate.
“How did N1 billion for the construction of sports complexes and N1.5 billion for road repairs in Ikorodu, Lagos, end up in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s budget?” BudgIT posted.
“Seriously, how is this okay? Misallocations like these waste valuable resources. Such insertions must not reoccur in the #2025Budget!”
Precedent of Budget Padding
This is not the first time that Nigeria’s budgeting process has been marred by allegations of padding. The term refers to the insertion of questionable or non-essential line items into the national budget, often for personal or political gain. These insertions typically inflate the budget without delivering direct benefits to citizens.
In 2016, Nigeria witnessed a major budget padding scandal when several projects amounting to billions of naira were inserted into the national budget without proper justification.
This prompted public outrage and calls for more stringent oversight of the budget process. The issue has since persisted, with civil society organizations like BudgIT continuously highlighting discrepancies in national budgets.
Last week, the tech-driven advocacy group had posted a controversial N80 million allocation to Nigeria’s space agency for what it termed an “irrelevant” project: pregnancy sensitization.
The group accused members of the National Assembly of abusing the budget process by adding projects solely for personal enrichment, a practice that has plagued Nigeria’s legislative system for years.
“N80 million to a Space Agency for pregnancy sensitization? This is @nassnigeria members looting through budget insertions! They are inserting projects for personal gain. We can’t let this continue,” BudgIT posted, urging Nigerians to scrutinize the upcoming 2025 budget and hold lawmakers accountable.
READ ALSO: Aviation Minister Keyamo calls out Royal Air Maroc over passenger treatment in Marrakesh
Also, last Friday, BudgIT took to its X platform to expose questionable financial allocations within the 2024 federal budget, citing how the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) received N300 million to purchase and distribute tricycles—an initiative outside its core mandate.
“Nigerians, since when did news agencies become tricycle distributors?” BudgIT posted, questioning how NAN’s budget included funds for tricycles in Abia, school renovations in Bayelsa, and streetlight installations in Rivers.
“Is this their job? How did we get here? #2025 Budget will soon be released, Nigerians; hold your lawmakers accountable,” the post continued.
Implications for the Budgeting Process
BudgIT’s latest call for transparency reflects a deep-rooted issue in Nigeria’s public financial management system. Misallocations such as the one highlighted by BudgIT not only waste valuable resources but also undermine public trust in government.
When budget padding goes unchecked, it diverts funds away from critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, leading to inefficiencies in governance and service delivery.
Furthermore, such practices compromise the credibility of the budgeting process. When citizens see funds being allocated to unrelated or frivolous projects, it diminishes confidence in the government’s ability to manage public funds responsibly.
This ultimately affects the implementation of much-needed programs aimed at improving livelihoods and driving economic growth.
BudgIT’s warning about budget padding ahead of the 2025 budget signals the need for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s budgeting process.
The organization, along with other civil society groups, is advocating for tighter scrutiny of budget proposals, improved legislative oversight, and the removal of fraudulent insertions from the budget before it is approved.
If unchecked, such practices could continue to stifle economic development and exacerbate inefficiencies in government spending.
The 2025 budget will be closely watched by both national and international stakeholders, and BudgIT’s crusade is expected to pressure the National Assembly to ensure transparency and accountability in the upcoming fiscal plan.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
