Budget Brawl: NASS, BudgIT in Fierce Dispute Over N6.93 Trillion in 2025 Budget Insertions

A major controversy has erupted over Nigeria’s 2025 national budget, as civic organization BudgIT accuses the National Assembly of inserting over 11,000 questionable projects worth N6.93 trillion. The group alleges these projects serve narrow political interests and undermine national development priorities. The National Assembly, however, strongly denies the allegations, asserting its constitutional right to amend the budget.

BudgIT’s report criticizes what it calls a culture of “budget capture,” where lawmakers manipulate the budget for personal or political gain. Key findings include:

• 238 projects over N5 billion each, totaling N2.29 trillion, with little or no justification.
• 984 projects worth N1.71 trillion and 1,119 projects between N500 million and N1 billion totaling N641.38 billion.
• Constituency-level projects: 3,573 worth N653.19 billion and 1,972 worth N444.04 billion.

Other flagged insertions include:

• 1,477 street light projects – N393.29 billion
• 538 boreholes – N114.53 billion
• 2,122 ICT projects – N505.79 billion
• N6.74 billion for “empowerment of traditional rulers”

BudgIT also revealed that 39% of all insertions — 4,371 projects worth N1.72 trillion — were forced 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 saw significant increases.

Some federal agencies, like the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, were described as “dumping grounds” for politically motivated projects, despite lacking capacity. For instance, the Oji River college was allocated funds for utility vehicles, rural electrification, and solar lights — all beyond its scope.

BudgIT criticized the Presidency’s silence despite formally alerting the Budget Office, National Assembly, and the President’s office. “Silence which, in the face of overwhelming evidence, amounts to complicity,” the group said.

Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Country Director, called on President Bola Tinubu to restore integrity to the budget process and urged the Attorney-General to seek Supreme Court clarification on NASS powers. He also asked anti-corruption bodies like the EFCC and ICPC to investigate.

In response, the National Assembly dismissed the claims. Senator Yemi Adaramodu described BudgIT’s report as “spurious,” while Hon. Clement Jimbo called it “completely false,” defending the Assembly’s power to adjust, add, or remove items in the budget.

Jimbo added that nearly 200 committees review agency submissions, and that the Assembly only reflects the people’s needs. He rejected any claims of individual lawmakers diverting public funds.

This clash reflects long-standing tension between transparency advocates and lawmakers over control of the budget process. Civil society groups continue to demand reforms and greater accountability.

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