NASS budget insertions soar 656% to ₦6.9tn in four years – Report

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“As the volume of insertions increases, so does the risk of misallocation and abuse of public funds,” it noted.

Nigeria’s National Assembly has inflated budget insertions from ₦913bn in 2021 to ₦6.9tn in 2025, sparking concerns over fiscal transparency and fund mismanagement, according to BudgIT’s latest findings.

The civic tech group revealed lawmakers added 11,122 projects worth ₦6.9tn to the 2025 budget – a 656% surge from 2021’s 5,601 projects (₦913bn). This follows a consistent upward trend: ₦910bn (2022), ₦2.24tn (2024). Experts warn such unchecked insertions enable “misallocation and abuse of public funds”, with duplicated projects compromising development priorities.

BudgIT’s data shows legislative interference intensifying despite constitutional budgeting roles. The 2025 insertion alone equals 15% of Nigeria’s total ₦46tn budget, raising accountability questions as opaque allocations bypass public scrutiny.

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