How NASS inserted 11,122 projects worth N6.93trn in 2025 budget – BudgIT

NASS Complex

Members of the National Assembly reportedly padded the 2025 budget with no fewer than 11,122 projects valued at N6.93 trillion, BudgIT, has revealed.

BudgIT, a civic tech organisation promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria, said in a statement made available to Vanguard on Tuesday that by inserting the projects, which the executive did not envisage, members of the NASS have taken what began as isolated irregularities over the years, to a deeply entrenched culture of exploitation and abuse, with the budget process now turned into a playground for self-serving political interests, led by top-ranking members of the national legislature.

BudgIT said that 238 projects valued above N5 billion each, with a cumulative value of N2.29 trillion, were inserted with little to no justification.

Nine hundred and eighty-four projects worth N1.71 trillion and 1,119 projects within the range of N500 million to N1 billion, totaling N641.38 billion, were indiscriminately inserted, raising questions about their relevance and alignment with national priorities.

These insertions, far from promoting development, appear tailored to satisfy narrow political interests and personal gains rather than the citizens’ interests.

Giving further details of how the padding was done, BudgIT stated: “A closer look shows that 3,573 projects worth N653.19 billion are assigned directly to federal constituencies and 1,972 projects worth N444.04 billion to senatorial districts.

Categorically, some of the most glaring anomalies include: 1,477 streetlight projects worth N393.29 billion; 538 boreholes totalling N114.53 billion; 2,122 ICT projects valued at N505.79 billion; and N6.74 billion earmarked for “empowerment of traditional rulers”.

“Shockingly, 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.