By Parrot Newspaper 
2025 Budget Scandal: National Assembly Inserts N6.93tn Projects – BudgIT
In a revelation shaking Nigeria’s fiscal landscape, civic tech group BudgIT has accused the National Assembly of inserting a staggering 11,122 projects worth N6.93 trillion into the 2025 national budget—raising fresh alarms over political interference and financial recklessness.
The discovery, announced on Monday via the organisation’s X account, followed a detailed analysis of the approved N54.99 trillion budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The budget, initially proposed at N49.7 trillion by President Bola Tinubu, was increased to N54.2 trillion at his request—before being further padded, BudgIT alleges, by lawmakers.
“You will be shocked at what we found,” BudgIT wrote in a social media post that set the tone for a scathing critique of Nigeria’s budgetary process.
Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Country Director, described the insertions as “an assault on fiscal responsibility,” warning that the trend of political tampering in the national budget is becoming dangerously routine.
“This undermines the very essence of national planning, distorts priorities, and diverts much-needed public resources into the pockets of political elites,” Okeowo stated.
The group’s breakdown paints a troubling picture:
238 projects worth over N5 billion each, totalling N2.29 trillion.
984 projects valued at N1.71 trillion.
1,119 projects between N500 million and N1 billion, together amounting to over N641 billion.
BudgIT argued that many of these allocations appear “politically motivated and indiscriminate.” A large number, the report noted, are tied directly to political zones:
3,573 projects worth N653.19 billion are earmarked for federal constituencies.
1,972 projects costing N444.04 billion are designated for senatorial districts.
Other eyebrow-raising figures include:
1,477 streetlight projects at a cost of N393.29 billion.
2,122 ICT-related projects totalling N505.79 billion.
538 borehole projects amounting to N114.53 billion.
A curious N6.74 billion set aside for the “empowerment of traditional rulers.”
The Ministry of Agriculture appears to have borne the brunt of these insertions. BudgIT disclosed that 4,371 projects valued at N1.72 trillion were lumped into the ministry’s portfolio, ballooning its capital budget from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion.
Similar budget inflations were observed in the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, and Science and Technology.
Calling for urgent reforms, BudgIT urged President Tinubu to assert executive leadership and rein in the chaotic budgeting culture. The group demanded that future budgets be aligned strictly with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025).
BudgIT also called on the Attorney General of the Federation to seek a constitutional interpretation of the National Assembly’s powers—particularly its ability to introduce new capital projects without the consent of the executive branch.
As questions mount over transparency and accountability, BudgIT’s findings could reignite the national debate over who truly controls Nigeria’s purse strings—and at what cost to development.