Nigeria’s Budgeting Process Criticised over Constituency Funding Frauds
Nigeria’s budgeting process has come under scrutiny following allegations of corruption and abuse of constituency projects.
Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain in the Peoples Democratic Party and former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, has voiced his concerns over the practice.
According to Sowunmi, the inclusion of constituency projects in the national budget undermines the legislative oversight role of the National Assembly and compromises its independence.
A recent report by civic-tech organisation BudgIT revealed that a staggering 11,122 projects worth N6.93tn were inserted into the 2025 national budget, accounting for 12.5% of the total budget signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The report further showed that 238 projects, each valued above N5bn, were allocated with little or no justification, while 3,573 projects worth N653.19bn were directly assigned to federal constituencies and 1,972 projects valued at N444.04bn were allocated to senatorial districts.
Sowunmi believes that the concept of constituency projects has been hijacked by lawmakers for personal gain and political patronage, rather than serving its intended purpose of driving development.
He argues that the practice has eroded public trust in the budgeting process and has become a means for budget padding and corruption. Sowunmi is calling for the cancellation of constituency projects and the redirection of funds to more impactful and sustainable development programmes.
