EXPOSED: Budget Padding: How NASS Approved N40.22billion For College Of Fisheries As Against Proposed N667million
BudgIT Foundation, Nigeria’s civic tech organisation, has revealed that the National Assembly in a budget padding spree of the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act, inserted over N40billion in the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos 2024 proposed budget.
According to BudgIT report, the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos State in Southwest Nigeria submitted a proposed budget of N667million to the National Assembly for 2024.
However, the civic organisation, which raises the standards of transparency, citizen engagement and accountability, especially in public finance, said the National Assembly approved N40.88billion for the college.
By approving N40.88 billion for the college against the N667 million it proposed, BudgIT explained that the lawmakers padded the budget with a margin of N40.22 billion, representing over 5000% increment.
According to the organisation, the National Assembly inserted 12 projects running into billions and hundreds of millions.
BudgIT in a short statement on its social media account on Thursday said, “The Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology’s 2024 proposed budget was N667 million.
“But what was approved by the National Assembly was N40.88 billion. A margin of N40.22 billion! An increase of more than 5,000%.
“@nassNigeria, we hope it will not be business as usual in the review of the 2025 proposed budget.”
The inserted projects include Provision of tricycle in selected communities: Urua Inyang, Ifuho, in Akwa Ibom State with N200,000,000 budgetary allocation; Training of unemployed youths in some selected communities in South West with N1,000,000,000 budget allocation.
Supply of employment materials/kits/starter packs in Alagbe, Kooko Ebiye, Erinja, Ebute, Ijofin with N500,000,000 budget allocation; Construction of block of classrooms at St. Peters College (Junior) School, Olomore with budget allocation of N500,000,000, and Construction of Immigration office building, Ogun state with N500,000,000 budget allocation.
Others are Construction of police office building, Ogun State with budget allocation N500,000,000; Construction of Airforce office building, Ogun state with N500,000,000 budget allocation; Provision of security vehicles for police in Ado-Odo, Imeko, Ipokia with budget allocation of N300,000,000; Provision of additional facilities and maintenance of Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence, University of Lagos with N250,000,000.
Provision for purchase of security vehicles for Obot, Ika and Etim Ekpo local government areas of Akwa Ibom State with a budget allocation of N245,000,000; Provision of security vehicles for police in Akwa Ibom State and Medical outreach with N220,000,000 budget allocation and purchase of medicines to rural health centers in Ineshe, Agubata, Ipokia and Afon communities with a budget allocation of N200,000,000.
The Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology’s 2024 proposed budget was N667 million.
But what was approved by the @nassnigeria was N40.88 billion.
A margin of N40.22 billion!
An increase of more than 5,000% @nassNigeria, we hope it will not
