Budget Padding Scandal: How N6.93 Trillion Was Quietly Inserted into Nigeria’s 2025 Budget

A Budget Gone Rogue

It started as just another national budget process—a routine that should reflect strategic development plans, economic priorities, and the real needs of Nigerians. But by the time the final document landed on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s desk, something didn’t add up.

A staggering N6.93 trillion worth of projects—spread across 11,122 insertions—had quietly found their way into the budget, raising serious questions about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and political maneuvering.

Where Did This Money Go?

According to BudgIT, the civic tech organization that uncovered this anomaly, many of these projects were inserted without proper justification, including:

• 238 projects valued above N5 billion each, inserted without explanations.
• 984 projects worth N1.71 trillion, added under questionable circumstances.
• 1,477 streetlight projects totaling N393.29 billion—a surprisingly large allocation for an item that rarely transforms communities.
• 2,122 ICT projects worth N505.79 billion, raising concerns about potential contract padding.
• N6.74 billion earmarked for the empowerment of traditional rulers—a vague category that provides little clarity on how the money will be spent.

Ministries Used as Fronts?

One of the most shocking revelations was the inflation of budgets within key ministries—turning essential government offices into conduits for questionable spending.

• The Ministry of Agriculture saw its capital allocation jump from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion, thanks to 4,371 inserted projects.
• The Ministry of Science and Technology was given an unexpected N994.98 billion boost, with no clear roadmap on how it aligns with national priorities.
• The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning received N1.1 trillion in additional projects, further muddying the waters on budget credibility.

Misplaced Priorities

Perhaps the most bizarre allocations involve agencies that have no business handling certain types of projects:

• The Federal Cooperative College, Oji River was tasked with managing rural electrification in Rivers State (N1.5 billion) and solar streetlights in Enugu (N1 billion)—two assignments far outside its mandate.
• The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute was assigned multiple projects worth billions, despite concerns that it lacks the capacity to oversee such initiatives.

Silence from the Presidency

Despite multiple calls for explanations, the government has remained eerily silent. BudgIT, through its “The Budget is a Mess” campaign, has sent formal inquiries to the Presidency, Budget Office, and National Assembly, but no response has been issued.

Meanwhile, critics argue that budget padding has become an entrenched practice, with funds often redirected to political interests rather than national progress.

Calls for Action and Accountability

BudgIT has urged:

• President Tinubu to take executive action and reform the budgeting process.
• The Attorney General to seek a constitutional interpretation regarding the National Assembly’s power to insert projects without Executive approval.
• EFCC and ICPC to investigate the nature of these insertions.

Will Anything Change?

With Nigeria’s economy under pressure, citizens are demanding more than just explanations—they want consequences. Will President Tinubu take bold action, or will this scandal become just another forgotten chapter in the country’s governance struggles?

The answer may shape Nigeria’s political landscape for years to come.