BudgIT Uncovers N6.93tn in Dubious Projects Inserted by Lawmakers in 2025 Budget

• BudgIT Nigeria has revealed that over 11,000 projects worth N6.93 trillion were inserted by lawmakers into the 2025 national budget.

• It described it as systemic abuse by top-ranking members of the National Assembly.

Civic tech organisation BudgIT has uncovered 11,122 projects amounting to N6.93 trillion that were inserted into the 2025 federal budget by members of the National Assembly. The group described the insertions as part of a “deeply entrenched culture of exploitation and abuse,” spearheaded by top legislators.

According to a statement posted Tuesday on BudgIT’s official X handle, “What began as isolated irregularities has, over the years, evolved into a deeply entrenched culture of exploitation and abuse, with the budget process now a playground for self-serving political interests.”

It pointed out that many of the inserted projects had little to no justification, including 238 projects above N5 billion each, totaling N2.29 trillion.

ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!

In its detailed analysis, BudgIT noted 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.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Representing Nigeria at Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Inauguration

The organisation further revealed disturbing trends of underperforming agencies being used as project dumping grounds and flagged anomalies such as 1,477 streetlight projects worth N393.29 billion and N6.74 billion allocated for the “empowerment of traditional rulers.”

BudgIT called on President Bola Tinubu to “exercise stronger executive leadership and reform the budgeting process,” and urged Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to seek constitutional clarification on the National Assembly’s authority to introduce capital projects. It also asked EFCC and ICPC to track and investigate the inserted projects for value and accountability.