{"id":7902,"date":"2025-05-21T19:42:42","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/?p=7902"},"modified":"2025-05-21T19:42:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:42:42","slug":"budgit-flags-n6-93-trillion-worth-of-lawmaker-insertions-in-2025-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/budgit-flags-n6-93-trillion-worth-of-lawmaker-insertions-in-2025-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"BudgIT Flags N6.93 Trillion Worth of Lawmaker &#8216;Insertions&#8217; in 2025 Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\" data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"1030\"><strong data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"767\">Abuja | May 20, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 A new report by civic tech organization <strong data-start=\"810\" data-end=\"820\">BudgIT<\/strong> has raised alarm over the insertion of <strong data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"900\">11,122 projects worth N6.93 trillion<\/strong> by the National Assembly into the <strong data-start=\"935\" data-end=\"966\">N54.99 trillion 2025 budget<\/strong>, describing the trend as fiscally risky and politically driven.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1032\" data-end=\"1289\">In the report titled <strong data-start=\"1053\" data-end=\"1114\">&#8220;Insertions by the National Assembly in the 2025 Budget,&#8221;<\/strong> BudgIT said the legislature&#8217;s additions significantly altered the capital allocation landscape, amplifying what it called an &#8220;ugly trend&#8221; accelerated during the 9th Assembly.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"1291\" data-end=\"1294\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1296\" data-end=\"1346\"><strong data-start=\"1300\" data-end=\"1346\">Budget Restructured for Political Projects<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1379\">According to BudgIT\u2019s analysis:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1380\" data-end=\"1740\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1380\" data-end=\"1500\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1382\" data-end=\"1500\">The <strong data-start=\"1386\" data-end=\"1415\">recurrent non-debt budget<\/strong> was increased by <strong data-start=\"1433\" data-end=\"1452\">N299.75 billion<\/strong>, from <strong data-start=\"1459\" data-end=\"1477\">N8.58 trillion<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"1481\" data-end=\"1499\">N8.81 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1501\" data-end=\"1623\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1503\" data-end=\"1623\">The <strong data-start=\"1507\" data-end=\"1542\">recurrent debt servicing budget<\/strong> was slashed by <strong data-start=\"1558\" data-end=\"1573\">N2 trillion<\/strong>, from <strong data-start=\"1580\" data-end=\"1599\">N16.32 trillion<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"1603\" data-end=\"1622\">N14.31 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1624\" data-end=\"1740\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1740\"><strong data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1649\">Capital expenditure<\/strong> ballooned by over <strong data-start=\"1668\" data-end=\"1683\">N9 trillion<\/strong>, rising from <strong data-start=\"1697\" data-end=\"1716\">N14.85 trillion<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"1720\" data-end=\"1739\">N23.96 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1742\" data-end=\"1958\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1744\" data-end=\"1958\">\u201cThis increase reflects newly introduced or inflated projects. Of the capital additions, <strong data-start=\"1833\" data-end=\"1851\">N6.93 trillion<\/strong> stems from <strong data-start=\"1863\" data-end=\"1891\">11,122 inserted projects<\/strong>\u2014many of which do not align with national priorities,\u201d BudgIT said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"1960\" data-end=\"1963\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1965\" data-end=\"2007\"><strong data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"2007\">Major Insertions in Key Ministries<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2009\" data-end=\"2030\">BudgIT reported that:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2031\" data-end=\"2431\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2031\" data-end=\"2196\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2033\" data-end=\"2196\"><strong data-start=\"2033\" data-end=\"2051\">4,371 projects<\/strong> worth <strong data-start=\"2058\" data-end=\"2076\">N1.72 trillion<\/strong> were added under the <strong data-start=\"2098\" data-end=\"2125\">Ministry of Agriculture<\/strong>, raising its capital budget from <strong data-start=\"2159\" data-end=\"2195\">N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2197\" data-end=\"2310\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2310\"><strong data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2217\">1,777 projects<\/strong> valued at <strong data-start=\"2228\" data-end=\"2247\">N994.98 billion<\/strong> were inserted into the <strong data-start=\"2271\" data-end=\"2309\">Ministry of Science and Technology<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2311\" data-end=\"2431\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2431\"><strong data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2339\">90 additional projects<\/strong> worth <strong data-start=\"2346\" data-end=\"2363\">N1.1 trillion<\/strong> were allocated to the <strong data-start=\"2386\" data-end=\"2430\">Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2433\" data-end=\"2530\">The group criticized the <strong data-start=\"2458\" data-end=\"2507\">misalignment of projects with agency mandates<\/strong>, citing examples like:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2531\" data-end=\"2869\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2531\" data-end=\"2689\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2533\" data-end=\"2689\"><strong data-start=\"2533\" data-end=\"2576\">Federal College of Fisheries, New Bussa<\/strong>, which reportedly spent <strong data-start=\"2601\" data-end=\"2622\">nearly N1 billion<\/strong> on projects outside its jurisdiction in <strong data-start=\"2663\" data-end=\"2688\">Lagos and Ogun states<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2690\" data-end=\"2869\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2692\" data-end=\"2869\"><strong data-start=\"2692\" data-end=\"2741\">Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"2746\" data-end=\"2788\">Federal Cooperative College, Oji River<\/strong>, were also identified as <strong data-start=\"2814\" data-end=\"2833\">dumping grounds<\/strong> for politically motivated projects.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"2871\" data-end=\"2874\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2876\" data-end=\"2913\"><strong data-start=\"2880\" data-end=\"2913\">Examples of Inserted Projects<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2914\" data-end=\"2976\">The report detailed the nature and location of the insertions:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"3277\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"3035\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2979\" data-end=\"3035\"><strong data-start=\"2979\" data-end=\"3009\">1,477 streetlight projects<\/strong> worth <strong data-start=\"3016\" data-end=\"3035\">N393.29 billion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3036\" data-end=\"3084\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3038\" data-end=\"3084\"><strong data-start=\"3038\" data-end=\"3055\">538 boreholes<\/strong> totaling <strong data-start=\"3065\" data-end=\"3084\">N114.53 billion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3085\" data-end=\"3147\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3087\" data-end=\"3147\"><strong data-start=\"3087\" data-end=\"3117\">2,122 ICT-related projects<\/strong> valued at <strong data-start=\"3128\" data-end=\"3147\">N505.79 billion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3148\" data-end=\"3199\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3150\" data-end=\"3199\"><strong data-start=\"3150\" data-end=\"3173\">319 health projects<\/strong> worth <strong data-start=\"3180\" data-end=\"3199\">N420.09 billion<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3200\" data-end=\"3277\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3202\" data-end=\"3277\"><strong data-start=\"3202\" data-end=\"3219\">N6.74 billion<\/strong> allocated for the <strong data-start=\"3238\" data-end=\"3277\">\u201cempowerment of traditional rulers\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3279\" data-end=\"3567\">BudgIT noted that <strong data-start=\"3297\" data-end=\"3315\">3,573 projects<\/strong> worth <strong data-start=\"3322\" data-end=\"3341\">N653.19 billion<\/strong> were inserted into <strong data-start=\"3361\" data-end=\"3387\">federal constituencies<\/strong>, while <strong data-start=\"3395\" data-end=\"3413\">1,972 projects<\/strong> worth <strong data-start=\"3420\" data-end=\"3439\">N444.04 billion<\/strong> were allocated directly to <strong data-start=\"3467\" data-end=\"3491\">senatorial districts<\/strong>\u2014raising concerns over <strong data-start=\"3514\" data-end=\"3537\">political patronage<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"3542\" data-end=\"3566\">budget fragmentation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"3569\" data-end=\"3572\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"3574\" data-end=\"3634\"><strong data-start=\"3578\" data-end=\"3634\">FMBEP Responds: It\u2019s Constitutional, Not \u2018Insertion\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3636\" data-end=\"3878\">A source within the <strong data-start=\"3656\" data-end=\"3708\">Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning<\/strong> responded to the report, arguing that the <strong data-start=\"3751\" data-end=\"3772\">1999 Constitution<\/strong> grants the National Assembly the power to <strong data-start=\"3815\" data-end=\"3841\">alter budget proposals<\/strong>, including adding or removing items.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"3880\" data-end=\"4090\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3882\" data-end=\"4090\">\u201cIt is wrong to describe these adjustments as \u2018insertions\u2019 in a derogatory manner. The budget is a <strong data-start=\"3981\" data-end=\"4004\">negotiated document<\/strong>, and all alterations were done with the knowledge of the executive,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4092\" data-end=\"4244\">The source emphasized that <strong data-start=\"4119\" data-end=\"4148\">President Tinubu\u2019s assent<\/strong> to the budget reflects his commitment to <strong data-start=\"4190\" data-end=\"4243\">democratic collaboration and separation of powers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"4246\" data-end=\"4249\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"4251\" data-end=\"4301\"><strong data-start=\"4255\" data-end=\"4301\">BudgIT Warns of Waste and Underperformance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4303\" data-end=\"4500\">BudgIT concluded that the widespread budget alterations risk undermining transparency, misaligning public spending with actual national needs, and placing further strain on implementation capacity.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"4502\" data-end=\"4709\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4504\" data-end=\"4709\">\u201cAgencies are now overloaded with projects they lack the <strong data-start=\"4561\" data-end=\"4583\">technical capacity<\/strong> to execute. This results in <strong data-start=\"4612\" data-end=\"4682\">rampant underperformance, fiscal waste, and public disillusionment<\/strong>,\u201d the organization warned.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"4711\" data-end=\"4714\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"4716\" data-end=\"4736\"><strong data-start=\"4720\" data-end=\"4736\">What\u2019s Next?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4738\" data-end=\"5050\">As Nigeria continues to grapple with <strong data-start=\"4775\" data-end=\"4823\">fiscal deficits, rising debt servicing costs<\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"4829\" data-end=\"4864\">pressing development challenges<\/strong>, stakeholders say these budget practices may <strong data-start=\"4910\" data-end=\"4941\">undermine national planning<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"4946\" data-end=\"4962\">public trust<\/strong> unless a system of greater <strong data-start=\"4990\" data-end=\"5037\">oversight, transparency, and accountability<\/strong> is enforced.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"5052\" data-end=\"5055\" \/>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"5057\" data-end=\"5157\"><strong data-start=\"5057\" data-end=\"5082\">Download Full Report:<\/strong><br data-start=\"5082\" data-end=\"5085\" \/><a class=\"cursor-pointer\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5085\" data-end=\"5157\">Insertions by the National Assembly in the 2025 Budget \u2013 BudgIT PDF<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abuja | May 20, 2025 \u2014 A new report by civic tech organization BudgIT has raised alarm over the insertion of 11,122 projects worth N6.93 trillion by the National Assembly into the N54.99 trillion 2025 budget, describing the trend as fiscally risky and politically driven. In the report titled &#8220;Insertions by the National Assembly in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Civic tech group BudgIT reveals 11,122 projects worth N6.93tn were inserted by lawmakers in the 2025 budget, raising concerns over fiscal transparency and political interests.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7902"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7902"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7906,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7902\/revisions\/7906"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shakamomodu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}