BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation advocating for transparency and accountability in Nigeria, has raised alarms over alleged omissions, irregularities, and a lack of detailed breakdowns in the 2025 budget concerning various government ministries, departments, agencies, and parastatals.
In a statement issued on Thursday, signed by its communications associate, Nancy Odimegwu, the organisation pointed out that the National Judicial Council and TETFUND were among those without approved budgetary allocations.
Additionally, BudgIT noted the absence of disclosed budgets for major government-owned enterprises, including the Nigeria Ports Authority and the Nigerian Customs Service, among others.
The statement highlighted: “We have noted that the 2025 federal government proposed budget submitted to the National Assembly for review and approval, and published on the Budget Office website, omits funding for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, as well as failing to provide budget breakdowns for certain MDAs, commissions, and councils, such as the National Judicial Council [N341.63 billion] and TETFUND [N940.5 billion].
“The 2025 Proposed Budget also excludes the budgets for over 60 government-owned enterprises [GOEs], including the Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.”
The organisation underscored that a review of the previous Federal Government budget has shown a consistent pattern of the government missing its macroeconomic assumptions, which presents significant fiscal risks and leads to serious budget financing challenges.
BudgIT also expressed concerns regarding the revised retirement package for retired service chiefs and other senior military officers.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent announcement concerning the retirement benefits for military generals—including a bulletproof SUV, fully covered foreign medical care, $20,000 for medical trips, and domestic help allowances—stands in stark contrast to his prior commitments aimed at reducing the cost of governance and welfare packages for top-ranking public officials and civil servants.
“Such provisions not only inflate the budget and exacerbate the fiscal deficit, but they may also demoralise lower-ranking military personnel, who lack sufficient health insurance and retirement benefits despite facing greater combat-related risks.”
Therefore, the organisation has urged the National Assembly to conduct a thorough review of the budget, prioritising the national interest over personal agendas.
“As the National Assembly undertakes the review of the 2025 Proposed Budget, we appeal to the 360 Honourable Members of the House of Representatives and the 109 Distinguished Senators of the Nigerian Senate to place national interest above personal or parochial considerations,” it concluded.