BudgIT Foundation, Nigeria’s civic tech organisation, has revealed that the National Assembly in a budget padding spree of the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act, inserted over N100billion in the Federal Co-operative College in Ibadan, Oyo State and Oji River in Enugu State.
According to BudgIT report, the Federal Co-operative College, Ibadan, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, submitted a proposed budget of N1.5billion to the National Assembly.
The civic organisation, which raises the standards of transparency, citizen engagement and accountability, especially in public finance, said however that “The National Assembly inserted 182 projects worth N45.36billion and approved N46.9billion,” for the college.
Similarly, the Federal Co-Operative College, Oji River in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria, submitted a budget proposal of N12.8billion to the National Assembly, but the National Assembly sent back N103.6billion as an approved budget.
BudgIT which made the revelation in posts on its X account said, “Nigerians, there’s no easy way to say this, #TheBudgetisaMess.
“The Federal Co-operative College Ibadan submitted a proposed budget of N1.5 billion to the National Assembly. The National Assembly, @nassnigeria inserted 182 projects worth N45.36 billion and approved N46.9 billion.
“Is the National Assembly mining gold at the Federal Co-Operative College Oji River?
“How else do you explain 419 insertions and a N90 billion budget hike?
“FCC (Federal Co-Operative College) Oji River sent N12.8 billion to the National Assembly. The National Assembly sent back N103.6 billion as an approved budget!”
BdgIT
The organisation revealed that some of the inserted projects, most of which are projects outside the constitutional mandates of the colleges, include N500 million allocated to the college in Ibadan for “Construction of lightening facility within selected rural cooperators communities.”
Others are, N500 million budgeted for “Renewable energy intervention in selected cooperators communities,” N500 million budgeted for “Construction of solar powered street lights across selected communities for sustainability,” N500 million budgeted for “Energy poverty intervention in selected rural cooperators settlements.”
Another N500 million allocated for “Construction of sports complex, motorised borehole and flood lights for farming communities in Ipoti Ekiti,” in Ekiti State; N500 million allocated for “Construction and installation of solar street lights in selected locations in South West states.”
Others are, N498 million budgeted under the same Federal Co-Operative College, Ibadan, for “Construction of rural farming Nazareth road, Imeko,” N498 million allocated for “Construction of rural farming Lafenwa Alagbe road, Ilara,” N498 million allocated for “Construction of rural farming community Ona Odo Ilara road.”
Also budgeted under the college are, N498 million budgeted for “Construction of rural farming community Ayekoja road, Idofa,” N498 million budgeted for “Construction of rural farming community Sabo road, Owode,” and N498 million budgeted for “Construction of rural farming Obaladi Afon road.”
For Federal Co-Operative College, Oji River, Enugu state, the National Assembly allocated N500 million to the college for “Provision of motorcycles and tricycles to some youths in Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states.”
BudgIT
Other allocations include, N500 million allocated to the college for “Construction of mini sports centre at Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State,” N600 million budgeted for “Construction of Fistula facility at National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki,” Ebonyi State.
Also, N600 million was allocated for “Provision of empowerment of selected skilled youths and market women in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states,” N500 million budgeted for “Construction of renewable mini solar grid and renewable all-in-one solar street lights and boreholes in Akinmorin, Afijio Local Government Area, and Ijomu Oro in Oyo Central and Kwara South Senatorial districts.”
Another N1.5 billion allocated for “Deployments of all-in-one solar street lights in selected communities in South East senatorial district of Rivers State,” “Provision of 90w all-in-one solar street lights in Eleme Local Government Area of district of Rivers State,” and “Provision of 100w solar street lights in various market squares and Kira-Bara-Alue communities in Tai Local Government Area in South East Senatorial District in Rivers State.”
Other inserted projects are, N1 billion allocated to the college for “Installation of all-in-one street lights in Andoni Local Government Area in Rivers State,” and “Furnishing of community town hall with ICT and others in selected areas of Rivers State.”
Another N1 billion was budgeted under the college in Enugu for “Provision of 100watt street lights in various secondary schools in selected schools in Rivers State,” and “Installation of 100watt all-in-one street lights in hospitals and health centres across South East senatorial district of Rivers State.”
Decrying the mindblowing budget padding, BudgIT Foundation said, “If we continue like this, where will it take our country?
“The 2025 Budget will soon be presented, and insertions like this should not happen again.”
Saharareporters
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