By Abdullahi Alhassan Kaduna
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised concerns over the 2025 Federal Budget of Restoration, urging the Federal Government to prioritize transparency, accountability, and alignment with the needs of Nigerians. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), CISLAC cautioned against budget padding and the inclusion of questionable allocations.
CISLAC specifically criticized funds designated for scrapped ministries like the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Ministry of Sports, describing such allocations as indicative of inadequate needs assessment and a disregard for accountability. The organization called for urgent reforms to restore public trust.
The group also condemned the practice of legislators allocating resources for constituency projects without a legal framework for monitoring and accountability. "These projects are often implemented without adherence to public procurement regulations and fail to address the genuine needs of citizens," the statement emphasized.
CISLAC highlighted irregular payments totaling over ₦197.72 billion across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) between 2020 and 2021, citing systemic lapses in financial compliance and procurement processes as alarming examples of mismanagement.
The organization called on the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly to address these irregularities and recover misappropriated funds. CISLAC also urged the National Assembly to conduct the budget process with integrity amid widespread allegations of extortion and fraudulent insertions of budget line items.
CISLAC criticized parastatals that continue to receive statutory allocations without delivering tangible results, stressing that the Auditor-General's recommendations must guide this process. The organization demanded a budget that aligns with the President's objectives, free from scandals, allocations to non-existent entities, and project duplications.
To ensure accountability, CISLAC appealed to anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to monitor the budget process, investigate fraudulent activities, and enforce compliance with procurement laws.
As the nation anticipates the implementation of the 2025 budget, CISLAC reiterated its demand for a fiscal plan that reflects the aspirations of Nigerians, emphasizing the need for accountability, transparency, and disciplined execution to deliver measurable benefits to the people.
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