NEFGAD lauds Tinubu, n’assembly for restoring integrity to budgeting process

The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD), a public procurement advocacy group, has commended President Bola Tinubu and the national assembly for sanitising the national budgeting process.

On Friday, Tinubu signed the N54.99 trillion 2025 appropriation bill into law, marking a 99.96 percent increase from the 2024 budget of N27.5 trillion.

The bill was approved by the national assembly on February 13, after revisions to Tinubu’s initial budget proposal of N49.7 trillion.

In a statement on Saturday, Akingunola Omoniyi, NEFGAD head of office, said the national assembly has resolved the persistent problem of unauthorised capital project insertions in the budget.

Omoniyi said the assembly’s interference in budget formulation has posed a major obstacle, causing inefficiencies, improper resource distribution, and diminishing confidence in the budgeting system.

He noted that in the 2025 budget process, the president adhered to section 81(1) of the 1999 Constitution by requesting an extra N4.5 trillion, increasing total expenditure to N54.2 trillion.

“This singular act by the president is unprecedented; it is a clear departure from unconstitutional practices of the past,” the statement reads.

“Previously, lawmakers sat in the hallowed chamber performing executive functions by altering budget items and figures without recourse to the President, who is the chief drafter and determinant of the country’s spending and procurement priorities, subject to need assessment and evaluation by procuring entities’ procurement planning committees as enshrined in Sections 18 and 21 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

“This reform will definitely heighten public confidence in the budget and public procurement system, foster greater efficiency in public expenditure, strengthen fiscal discipline, and enhance economic growth.

“We urge all stakeholders, including the legislature, civil society, and the general public, to support this initiative and work collectively to uphold the integrity of our national budget further.

“As we move forward, we encourage continued vigilance and accountability in public finance management to sustain these gains.

“The fight against corruption and financial mismanagement must remain a top priority to ensure the nation’s prosperity and development.”