Serious concerns have emerged regarding Nigeria’s 2025 national budget following allegations that the National Assembly inserted projects valued at approximately N6.93 trillion without prior approval from the executive arm of government.
The revelation has sparked widespread public debate and raised questions about fiscal responsibility, transparency, and the integrity of the nation’s budgeting process.
According to reports from credible sources within the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office, these insertions were not part of the original budget proposal submitted by the executive in late 2024. Instead, the additions were reportedly made during the budget review and appropriation process by members of the National Assembly, under what critics are calling a "budget padding" scheme.
“This level of unauthorized augmentation is unprecedented,” said a senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The implications for Nigeria’s debt profile and fiscal discipline are deeply troubling.”
The inserted projects, many of which have been described as vague, duplicated, or misaligned with national development priorities, now represent a significant portion—nearly one-third—of the total N21 trillion 2025 budget.
Prominent civil society groups, including BudgIT and SERAP, have condemned the insertions, calling for a full audit of the 2025 budget and the prosecution of lawmakers found culpable.