The National Assembly has been enmeshed in a fresh budget padding scandal as an investigation by BudgIT has uncovered a shocking fraudulent activity in the proposed budget for the Federal College of Horticultural Technology in Dadin-Kowa, Gombe State.
The school’s budget was allegedly hiked by the lawmakers from ₦368 million to ₦42 billion.
BudgIT Foundation, a Nigerian civic tech organisation dedicated to promoting transparency and encouraging citizen engagement for institutional reforms, has reported significant irregularities in the 2024 budget process.
It said that the college in Northeastern Nigeria initially submitted a proposed budget of ₦368 million for the 2024 fiscal year.
Surprisingly, the National Assembly approved an allocation of ₦42.7 billion, resulting in a remarkable discrepancy of ₦42.332 billion—an increase of over 5,000 per cent.
This alarming revelation was brought to light in a BudgIT social media statement on Tuesday.
It reads, “From ₦368 million to ₦42.7 billion! For the 2024 fiscal year, the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe, initially proposed ₦368 million. However, the National Assembly approved ₦42.7 billion. A difference of ₦42 billion!!! @nassnigeria, we urge you to uphold integrity during the 2025 budget review.”
BudgIT also disclosed that the additional funds were designated for 12 projects that fall outside the college’s mandate.
The organization added that many of these projects, which include the supply and installation of solar streetlights, boreholes, motorcycles, and various community infrastructure, are situated far from Gombe.
Budget padding is not new to the National Assembly. Different accounts of financial irregularities and misapplication of extraneous amounts in the Appropriation bills have in the past greeted the parliament.
Many of these allegations, mostly, dug out by BidgiT have gone uninvestigated by the security agencies in Nigeria.
Nigerians expect a better life anytime the government presents budgets but their hope gets shattered after each fiscal year as governments fail to meet their basic needs.