2024 Budget: Report Shows NASS Allocated N6.6trn' to Unknown Projects' to Ministries

• A new report has identified an alleged allocation to ministries to execute unknown projects in the 2024 budget
• The analysis shows that various ministries were given allocations for projects that are not currently ongoing
• It was discovered that N2,486,098,619,722 budgeted for capital projects in more than 15 ministries was aggregated into regional projects

Legit. ng's Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade.

A new report which studied the breakdown of the 2024 budget passed by the 10th National Assembly (NASS) says unknown projects worth N6.6 trillion were discovered.

The suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) first accused his colleagues of padding the Appropriation Act. The lawmakers had approved N8,447,887,443,379 for several capital projects to be executed by 20 federal ministries.

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Document reveals 'unknown projects'

A document titled "Final Summary Analysis of the Harmonized 2024 Budget (Passed)", produced by Microxpressions Consult and submitted to the legislature, gave an overview of the figures focusing on allocations to Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

It was discovered that N2,486,098,619,722 budgeted for capital projects in more than 15 ministries was aggregated into regional projects, while N4,185,711,477,842 was allocated to projects without geographic identifiers, thus complicating monitoring.

Breakdown of the budgets

The report said the allocation to the South-West was N419,917,163,300, the South-East was N537,086,249,684, South-South - N224,969,978,366, North-West - N365,387,892,588, North-East - N349,434,063,602, and North-Central - N730,029,622,125.

The report noted

"Surprisingly, N6,671,810,092,564 (out of the N8,447,887,443,379), approximately 71.98% of the total' Development Capital Allocation', was assigned to initiatives that are either elusive in terms of traceability or encumbered by accountability constraints," it noted.

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Ministry of Youths: A total of N5,096,411,496 was budgeted for projects across all zones, but locations of projects worth N2,868,851,764 were not indicated; Ministry of Sports: N21,614,361,733 earmarked for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N7,464,061,733 not named.

Ministry of Defence: N3,762,721,808,585 set aside for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N3,280,130,880,602 not mentioned; Ministry of Special Duties: N10,770,986,503 budgeted for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N4,672,818,582 not identified.

Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning: N2,293,112,174,749 allocated for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N383,729,998,776 not stated; Ministry of Tourism: N15,358,369,171 pegged for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N1,206,655,625 not disclosed.

Ministry of Petroleum Resources: N8,622,741,732 approved for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N8,554,622,753 not mentioned; Ministry of Women Affairs: N12,055,872,158 earmarked for projects across all zones, location of projects worth N4,382,888,112 were revealed.

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Ministry of Justice: N33,860,593,566 budgeted for projects across all zones, location of projects worth N25,742,716,841 not identified; Ministry of Police Affairs: N99,382,436,919 allocated to projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N49,090,806,535 not disclosed.

Ministry of Agriculture: N895,398,209,400 earmarked for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N124,131,394,058 not indicated; Ministry of Environment: N75,200,361,462 allocated for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N55,278,212,086 not mentioned.

Ministry of Solid Minerals: N26,911,766,878 set aside for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N21,524,219,531 not identified; Ministry of Works: N987,289,797,899 earmarked for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N44,428,040,905 not stated.

Ministry of Water Resources: N281,591,884,394 budgeted for projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N54,120,180,977 not disclosed; Ministry of Health: N539,413,163,575 allocated to projects across all zones, locations of projects worth N146,215,196,278 not revealed.

Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy: N4,893,877,166 was approved for various capital projects across all zones, but locations of projects worth N3,646,711,848 were not indicated.

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Senator Ningi announces resignation after suspension

Legit.ng reported that Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi had announced his resignation as the chairman of the northern senators' forum following his suspension by the upper chamber of the national assembly.

The embattled senator said his decision was due to the unfolding events in the national assembly, the north and Nigeria.

He thanked the northern senators for briefly allowing him to serve them as the forum chair.

Source: Legit.ng