National Assembly Inserts 7,447 Projects Worth N2 Trillion In 2024 Budget

National Assembly Inserts 7,447 Projects Worth N2 Trillion In 2024 Budget

A civic-tech non-profit organization, BudgIT, has accused the National Assembly of including 7,447 constituency projects amounting to N2.24 trillion in the 2024 budget……READ ALSO Senate Drama Unfolds: Proposal To Extend Retirement Age Of National Assembly Clerk Sparks Controversy

The organization made this revelation in a report released on Wednesday, responding to allegations of budget padding raised by suspended Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central.

According to BudgIT’s report, most of these projects inserted by the National Assembly are of personal interest and lack national significance.

The breakdown of the 2024 budget indicates that N25.4 trillion was allocated to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). However, the budget passed and published excluded the N3.32 trillion earmarked for government-owned enterprises (GOEs), the national assembly, the National Judicial Commission (NJC), the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

In its analysis, BudgIT noted that the 10th National Assembly continued the trend of indiscriminate insertion of projects in the budget, with certain agencies and organizations being targeted for these insertions.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reportedly received the highest number of inserted projects, totaling 2,470 projects worth N632.31 billion.

The report highlighted that out of the 7,447 inserted projects, 55 projects valued at N580.7 billion exceeded N5 billion each. Additionally, 281 projects worth N491 billion and 3,706 projects ranging from N100 million to N500 million, totaling N759 billion, were inserted into the budget.

BudgIT criticized the National Assembly for adding projects indiscriminately, with many lacking national significance and appearing to serve personal interests.

The controversy surrounding the 2024 budget arose when Senator Ningi alleged that it was padded by N3 trillion and claimed the country was operating two budgets concurrently. The allegations sparked heated debates during the Senate plenary, resulting in Senator Ningi’s suspension for three months from all legislative duties.