• Another N624b allocated outside mandate
• Budget falls short by 75% as FG disbursed N1.23tr for capital projects
Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, has expressed concern over the allocation of N732.5billion worth of empowerment projects in the 2024 federal government’s capital and constituency projects.
According to the body, the amount is higher than the N646.5 billion allocated to health projects despite the 2023 record of Nigeria having the second-highest child mortality rate in the world.
Tracka regretted that the allocations in the 2024 budget did not reflect priority in the health sector, insisting that empowerment projects were vague and challenging to track due to their nature.
However, total amount the Federal Government disbursed for the implementation of capital projects stood at N1.23 trillion as of September 30, 2023, representing a 75 per cent decline from N5 trillion in the 2023 budget.
According to the platform, empowerment projects are used as a conduit pipe to divert public resources to party loyalists, resulting in misuse.
An analysis on its website, signed by Tracka Head, Ayomide Ladipo, listed 4,440 empowerment projects while the National Assembly inserted 7,447 projects valued at N2.24 trillion in the 2024 budget.
Recalling that empowerment projects were limited to constituency projects, Tracka regretted that over the years, they had gradually seeped into capital projects through insertions by the National Assembly.
Tracka identified the development as a problematic trend, considering the huge infrastructure gap and budget deficits the nation grapples.
Further analysis also showed that over 2,558 projects worth N624 billion were allocated to agencies outside their mandate.
It cited the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) – ERGP20241489, which was allocated N5 billion for the Procurement and Distribution of Official Vehicles to Selected Traditional Rulers in the Six Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria (Multiple Lots).
The Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NiOMR) – ERGP20245718, which was allocated N2.32 billion to construct a 3.5km Road from Methodist Church, Ibu, to the Eri River, was also a case in point.
Tracka called on anti-graft agencies to probe the anomalies in the 2024 budget to forestall diversion, misappropriation and embezzlement. It also urged elected representatives as well as Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to provide timely updates to the public and ensure quality implementation of the projects to ensure Nigerians derive maximum benefit from public funds.
Reacting to the report, BudgIT’s Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, expressed concern over the development. He said: “The implication of assigning projects to agencies outside their mandate area is that it undermines monitoring, evaluation and sustainability.
“These agencies lack the expertise and personnel to ensure quality service delivery for these projects, leading to under-delivery and a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money and scarce resources.”
ACCORDING to the Q3 2023 Budget Implementation Report released by the Budget Office, yesterday, the execution of the 2023 Budget in the third quarter was very challenging mainly due to significant revenue mobilisation challenges.
The report indicated that the Q3 was characterised by a weakening global economy, as the macroeconomic environment was adversely affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and tightening financial conditions.
These, it stated, resulted in the downturn of most economic activities and volatility in crude oil demand and price in the international market.
“Of the prorated budgeted expenditure of N12.51 trillion, N11.72 trillion was spent reflecting a decrease of 6.32 per cent. As at September 30, 2023, the government had released and cash-backed N1.23 trillion for capital spending by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and continued to meet its non-discretional expenditures,” it stated.
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