BudgIT, a Nigerian civic technology organization that champions transparency and accountability in public finance, has disclosed that lawmakers in the National Assembly (NASS) have significantly inflated the 2025 national budget. According to their investigation, no fewer than 11,122 additional projects—amounting to a staggering N6.93 trillion—were inserted into the budget by NASS members. These projects were not initially proposed by the Executive arm of government, and BudgIT argues that the act reflects a deepening culture of budgetary manipulation and abuse. What once appeared as scattered irregularities has now, according to BudgIT, evolved into a consistent and troubling trend of budgetary exploitation led by senior legislators.

The organization revealed that 238 of the inserted projects, each exceeding N5 billion in cost and together totaling N2.29 trillion, were included without substantial justification. In addition, they identified 984 projects amounting to N1.71 trillion and another 1,119 projects costing between N500 million and N1 billion, with a combined value of N641.38 billion. These projects, BudgIT notes, often lack relevance and do not align with national development goals. Instead, they appear to be inserted to serve narrow political agendas or personal enrichment, rather than benefiting the Nigerian populace.

Further analysis by BudgIT showed that a large number of these projects were assigned specifically to lawmakers’ constituencies. Around 3,573 projects worth N653.19 billion were allocated to federal constituencies, while 1,972 projects amounting to N444.04 billion were directed to senatorial districts. Among the questionable projects highlighted were 1,477 streetlight initiatives worth N393.29 billion, 538 borehole projects valued at N114.53 billion, and 2,122 ICT-related projects costing N505.79 billion. Additionally, N6.74 billion was earmarked for the “empowerment of traditional rulers,” raising further concerns about the misuse of public funds.

A particularly concerning revelation was that 39% of all inserted projects—about 4,371 of them, worth N1.72 trillion—were allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture. This drastically increased the Ministry’s capital budget from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion. The Ministries of Science and Technology and Budget and Economic Planning also experienced large, unjustified budget increases of N994.98 billion and N1.1 trillion, respectively.

BudgIT also condemned the misuse of certain government agencies as channels for these politically motivated projects. For instance, the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (Lagos) and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, were used as dumping grounds for projects they are not equipped to manage. The College, a training institution, was inappropriately tasked with overseeing N3 billion for utility vehicles, N1.5 billion for rural electrification in Rivers State, and N1 billion for solar streetlights in Enugu—projects far outside its operational scope.

Despite the severity of these revelations, BudgIT expressed disappointment that the Presidency has remained silent. The organization had previously launched a campaign titled “The Budget is a Mess” and formally communicated its concerns to the Presidency, the Budget Office, and the National Assembly. However, no responses have been received, and no institution has taken responsibility for the anomalies highlighted.

Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Country Director, emphasized that this unchecked budget padding severely undermines fiscal responsibility and public trust. He argued that such manipulations distort national planning and funnel public funds into the hands of political elites. Okeowo called for urgent reforms, including stronger executive oversight, transparency in budget formulation, and a constitutional review of the National Assembly’s powers to insert new projects without executive input.

BudgIT further urged President Bola Tinubu to lead the push for reform and align the national budget with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025). They also called on the Attorney General to seek constitutional interpretation from the Supreme Court regarding the Assembly’s appropriation powers. Additionally, anti-corruption bodies like the EFCC and ICPC were encouraged to investigate these questionable projects to ensure proper use of public funds.

Finally, BudgIT appealed to citizens, the media, civil society organizations, and international development partners to demand reforms. According to the group, the issue transcends mere financial mismanagement; it touches on justice, equity, and the broader future of governance in Nigeria. They concluded that the 2025 budget must prioritize the interests of the Nigerian people, not those of a select political elite.