The federal ministries of finance and budget are facing criticism for their silence on serious allegations of project duplications in the 2024 national budget.
This issue has raised eyebrows among citizens and analysts alike, as it highlights potential mismanagement of public funds.
BudgIT Nigeria, an organization focused on transparency in public finance, has revealed startling discrepancies in the allocation of projects to government agencies.
According to their findings, the 2024 budget includes allocations that do not align with the actual competencies of the respective agencies.
For instance, the Cocoa Research Institute in Ibadan has been allocated N100 million to construct streetlights in Lagos State.
This is perplexing, considering the institute’s primary role is to conduct research in cocoa, kola, and coffee.
The Cocoa Research Institute is not alone in this predicament.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has received N300 million for various unrelated projects, including purchasing tricycles and renovating schools in different states.
Similarly, a Space Agency was given N80 million for pregnancy sensitization programs, a task outside its stated mission of mechanizing agriculture.
“The budget is supposed to be a reflection of what an agency can effectively deliver,” said Oluseun Onigbinde, a public analyst.
He expressed concern that the budget has become a tool for misallocation and inefficiency.
Senator Abdul Ningi previously raised alarms about alleged budget padding amounting to N2 trillion.
Instead of addressing his concerns, he faced suspension from the Senate.
This incident raises questions about the willingness of lawmakers to investigate budgetary mismanagement.
The low budget performance in Nigeria, which hovers around 35% year-on-year, further undermines public confidence.
The impression created by inflated budgets does not translate into effective spending.
“The wrong insertion of projects stems from a bad budgetary process and outright corrupt acts,” Alayande added.
“Allocating projects to agencies that lack the necessary expertise is a recurring issue that must be addressed,” Onigbinde stated.
He urged the government to conduct thorough investigations into budget allocations to restore public trust.
