BudgIT Uncovers N6.93 Trillion Worth of Questionable Projects in 2025 Budget

BudgIT, a civic technology organization advocating for transparency in public finance, has uncovered that the National Assembly inserted 11,122 projects valued at N6.93 trillion into the 2025 federal budget. The revelation has sparked widespread concern over the integrity of Nigeria’s budgetary process. BudgIT described the insertions as a major breach of fiscal responsibility and a dangerous pattern of political interference that compromises national development priorities.

The 2025 budget, originally proposed at N49.7 trillion by President Bola Tinubu, was increased to N54.2 trillion by the National Assembly, and later passed at N54.99 trillion. BudgIT alleges that a significant portion of the increase stems from arbitrary and politically motivated additions by lawmakers. The group decried this as a distortion of the budget’s original intent, diverting scarce resources away from meaningful development.

According to BudgIT’s detailed breakdown, 238 of the inserted projects are each worth more than N5 billion, totaling N2.29 trillion, while nearly 1,000 projects range between N1 billion and N5 billion. The organization also flagged thousands of smaller projects, including those for streetlights, ICT, boreholes, and “empowerment of traditional rulers,” questioning their relevance and justifiability. Many of these projects, BudgIT claims, lack transparency and are often used to serve political interests.

BudgIT’s findings reveal that the Ministry of Agriculture bore the brunt of the insertions, with its capital budget ballooning from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion, making up 39 percent of the total inserted projects. Other ministries such as Budget and Economic Planning, and Science and Technology were similarly affected. The report underscores how such massive, unexplained allocations erode budgetary discipline and risk entrenching systemic corruption.

In response, BudgIT called on President Tinubu to lead reform efforts by realigning the budget with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025). The organization also urged the Attorney General of the Federation to seek judicial clarification on the extent of the National Assembly’s power to inject new projects into the national budget without executive approval.