Lawmakers Under Fire Over N54.99 Trillion Budget Approval

The National Assembly’s passage of the record-breaking N54.99 trillion 2025 budget has sparked intense criticism, with many accusing lawmakers of misplaced priorities, fiscal irresponsibility, and potential political motives ahead of the 2027 elections.

Former presidential candidate Adewole Adebayor described the budget as poorly designed and economically dangerous, arguing that it fails to address Nigeria’s core economic challenges.

He criticized the government for prioritizing spending in unproductive areas, warning that this approach would aggravate inflation and disrupt monetary policy goals.

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) also questioned the rationale behind the unprecedented increase, suggesting that it could be a strategy to divert funds for political campaigns.

National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko called on the National Assembly to provide a more transparent explanation for the adjustment.

However, the National Assembly defended its approval of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, stating that the adjustment followed legislative reviews that identified additional revenues from key government agencies.

The expanded budget provides significant funding for critical sectors, including infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.

Some key allocations include:

N1.5 trillion for the Bank of Agriculture

N500 billion for the Bank of Industry

N1 trillion for the Ministry of Solid Minerals

N1.5 trillion for a Renewable Infrastructure Fund

N300 billion for road construction

N400 billion for rail transport

The budget also prioritizes light rail development in Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, and Kano, with further discussions ongoing for South East projects.