Civic group BudgIT Nigeria has accused members of the National Assembly of misappropriating funds by inserting N80 million into the 2024 budget of the National Space Research Development Agency (NSRDA) for what it claims is an unusual and inappropriate expenditure on “Pregnancy Sensitisation.”
BudgIT made this allegation in a video posted on its official X handle (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday.
The group criticized the Nigerian lawmakers, accusing them of using budget insertions for personal gain rather than for the intended purposes of public benefit.
In the viral video, BudgIT questioned the rationale behind allocating N80 million to a space agency for a project that seems unrelated to its core mission.
“N80 million to a Space Agency for pregnancy sensitization? This is National Assembly members looting through budget insertions!” the group exclaimed.
BudgIT argued that such insertions are a misuse of public funds, suggesting that they are a form of budgetary manipulation for personal or political gain.
The video has sparked widespread debate and concern among Nigerians about the integrity of budget processes and the role of lawmakers in managing public funds.
BudgIT’s call for vigilance emphasizes the need for citizens to hold their representatives accountable and to scrutinize budget allocations more closely.
The budget process in Nigeria involves several stages, including proposals, reviews, and approvals by various government bodies.
The National Assembly, which comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives, plays a significant role in reviewing and approving the budget submitted by the executive branch.
In recent years, there have been criticisms regarding the insertion of projects into the budget that do not align with the original proposals or the core functions of the agencies receiving the funds.
Critics argue that these insertions can be a way for lawmakers to divert funds for personal use or to benefit specific constituencies in a manner that lacks transparency.
The 2024 budget has seen significant adjustments and increases. The House of Representatives recently raised the budget from an initial N28.7 trillion to N35.055 trillion.
Additionally, a supplementary budget of N6.2 trillion was approved.
These changes have drawn attention and scrutiny from various quarters, with concerns about how the increased funds will be managed and allocated.
BudgIT’s accusations come amid these budgetary adjustments, adding to the ongoing discourse about financial governance and accountability in Nigeria.
BudgIT has urged Nigerians to be vigilant and proactive in holding their lawmakers accountable.
“Nigerians, shine your eyes and hold your lawmakers accountable,” the group said in its video.
