
The Federal Government’s 2025 budget proposals have sparked widespread debate, with the allocation of N2.3 trillion to the scrapped ministries of Niger Delta and Sports Development raising questions about the diligence and intent behind the budget planning process. Checks by Daily Trust revealed this curious allocation, leaving observers and experts speculating whether it was an administrative error or a deliberate misstep.
Scrapped Ministries and Unallocated Successors
In October, the government officially dissolved the Niger Delta and Sports Development ministries, transferring their responsibilities to the newly formed Ministry of Regional Development and the reinstated National Sports Commission (NSC). Yet, the budget documents still allocate a staggering N2.23 trillion to the defunct Niger Delta Ministry and N95 billion to the dissolved Sports Development Ministry.
Notably, the new Ministry of Regional Development and the NSC were omitted entirely from the budget proposals. This oversight has led experts to criticize the process, labeling it as a careless “copy-and-paste” exercise.
Breaking Down the Allocations
- Niger Delta Ministry: Personnel costs account for N2.205 trillion, with overheads and capital expenditures making up the rest.
- Sports Development Ministry: Personnel, overhead, and capital costs total N95 billion despite its dissolution.
- Regional Development Commissions: A separate allocation of N2.49 trillion is earmarked for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC), and newly established commissions for the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast regions.
These overlapping allocations for scrapped ministries and existing commissions have intensified calls for a rigorous review of the budget.
Critics Call for Fiscal Discipline
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been vocal in his criticism, asserting that the 2025 budget lacks the structural reforms and fiscal discipline needed to address Nigeria’s economic challenges. He described it as a continuation of “business-as-usual” practices, characterized by unsustainable borrowing and a bloated bureaucracy.
Atiku highlighted several key issues:
- Budgetary Gaps: Inadequate execution of previous budgets raises doubts about the effectiveness of the 2025 plans.
- Debt Servicing vs. Capital Expenditure: Debt servicing accounts for 33% of the total expenditure, nearly equaling capital expenditure at 34%.
- Recurrent Expenditures: Over N14 trillion is allocated to running the government, leaving limited resources for development.
- Regressive Taxation: The proposed VAT increase from 7.5% to 10% risks exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis.
Embarrassing Oversights or a Sinister Agenda?
Civil society leaders like Auwal Musa Rafsanjani of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have called the budget “embarrassing” and “ridiculous,” suggesting that such allocations could be a deliberate attempt to misappropriate funds. Rafsanjani urged the National Assembly to scrutinize the budget meticulously to eliminate suspicious duplications and misallocations.
The Way Forward
To restore public confidence and ensure fiscal responsibility, experts recommend:
- A realistic and needs-based budget focused on reducing poverty and unemployment.
- Eliminating inefficiencies and reducing recurrent expenditures.
- Increasing transparency and accountability in the budgetary process.
A Call for Rigorous Oversight
The inclusion of allocations for defunct ministries in the 2025 budget underscores the need for greater diligence and oversight. As the National Assembly prepares to deliberate on the Appropriation Bill, stakeholders must demand a transparent, growth-oriented, and fiscally disciplined approach to budgeting—one that prioritizes the welfare of Nigerians over bureaucratic inefficiencies.
By addressing these issues, the government has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to good governance and economic reform, ensuring that every naira spent contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.