Headlines

Untold Story Of 2016 Budget Padding

Published

10 years ago

February 8, 2016

By Emmanuel IFFER, Abuja

Many top civil servants are yet to wake up to the realisation that things have changed in the way government business is conducted, this is evident in the attempt by some government officials handling budget estimates to as usual manipulate and introduce some items for selfish gain into the 2016 estimate.
Findings by nationalTRAIL reveal that, like others before it, the 2016 budget estimate had items worth over 1.7 Trillion naira included in the final copy that was eventually presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly for necessary legislative action.
The budget estimate had items such as Aso Clinic(State House Medical Centre), as well as some items, simply lumped together as communication equipment, amongst several others that do not really march up with the vision of the present administration, neither has any direct or indirect impact on the lives of Nigerians.
A situation which is said to have not only embarrassed the president, but the whole of the cabinet and the presidency, which is why there are reports of the president’s harmer descending on some of the top officials involved in the act.
nationalTRAIL, learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari, has already ordered a compilation of names of officials fingered in the smuggling of items into the estimates, and it may only be a matter of time before his hammer falls on those who may have been manipulating the budgetary processes, by injecting figures that are later siphoned for private uses.
Findings reveal that, already, Permanent Secretaries who are the accounting officers of the various ministries and directors of finance and Accounts, under whose purview the preparation of budgets are anchored have been making frantic efforts to stave off the President’s action.
Knowledgeable sources told this newspaper that some of those bureaucrats handling budget issues, and have mastered the act of smuggling items that were not originally intended by the government to be included in the yearly estimates, had tried as it has become the norm, to frustrate the budget presentation before the end of last year.
“ You can see that this year’s budget also came in December, I can tell you that this is was deliberate, it was all to frustrate early presentation, these experts know how to create these problems, so there would not be enough time for proper scrutiny of the budget, knowing also that Nigerians are anxious to see things happening, and would also afford them the opportunity of last minutes rush and contract bazaar”
Another reliable source, conversant with the workings of the budget system, told our correspondent that budget preparation remains one of the biggest area where billions of the country’s resources are diverted into private pockets, saying, “ If we are serious to develop this country, we must be serious with our budgeting process, in fact we don’t have a budget, check it, in the last two or three years, have we had a budget in the real sense of it?.
“How can you be debating a budget till June in the year the budget should actually be working for the people, when will you implement it?, in the past years, Nigerian budget has not gone beyond 30 percent implementation, a budget is supposed to be ready latest by December 31, of the previous year, so that implementation begins January 1 of the intended year’, the source argued.
“ If we are serious, we must make it a constitutional thing, defining when a budget must be ready and announced just like it is done in other serious nations; like the USA whose budget for next year must get to the congress by February, that is the way to go.”
Further investigation reveal how the budget padding has been so perfected by MDAs in connivance with the Budget Office and budget committee at Federal Ministry of Finance, to the extent that it would require more than just an eagle eye to uncover.
nationalTRAIL learnt that sometimes the padding begins at the stage of issuing budgetary circular by the Federal Ministry of Finance, which is usually referred to as envelop, in which a ceiling is given to each MDA. Investigation showed that some MDAs and their top officials usually bribe at the envelop stage before circulars are issued so as to get a higher ceiling, or sometimes lobby and bribe at the budget committee level.
The National assembly is equally not insulated from this, according a source at the nation’s apex legislature; as most of the padding are allegedly perpetuated at that level since that arm of government has the final say in the budget process.
“ It is here that most of the padding of budget is done, MDAs come here to lobby and even bribe their way, those that cannot usually receive smaller allocations that can hardly meet their actual needs.
“ Let me tell you, most of what you see as passed budget is usually full of interest both at executive and legislative levels, not the genuine interest of developing the country” the source concluded.
It could be recalled that in 2005, then Minister for Education, Fabian Osuji and some members of the National Assembly, were accused of demanding and receiving bribe to increase the education ministry’s budgetary allocation, when Senator Adolfus Wambara, was the President of the Senate, an allegation that caused his removal as senate president.
But shortly after the initial national broadcast by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, and subsequent arrest of the accused, the matter has remained a mystery till date, with some of the principal actors, such as; Gabriel Suswam, then chairman house committee on Appropriation becoming the Governor of Benue State, while others have since moved on to other things, while the nation continue to bleed.

Headlines

BREAKING: Senate to Engage US Lawmakers Over Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

October 6, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Nigerian Senate is set to engage with US lawmakers following renewed debate on alleged targeted attacks against Christians in the country.

The controversy intensified after American TV host Bill Maher, on his HBO program, described the situation as a “silent genocide,” accusing Western media of downplaying mass killings by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Fulani militias. He cited claims that over 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and thousands of churches destroyed.

Maher’s remarks were echoed by Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who argued that the crisis had not received the international media attention it deserves.

Government Rejects Genocide Narrative
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as misleading and divisive. He emphasized that terrorist groups do not target Christians alone, insisting that Nigerians of all faiths—including Muslims and non-religious citizens—have suffered at the hands of violent extremists.

“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious war is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” Idris said.

Headlines

Nigeria @ 65: The Worst Is Over, We’ve Turned a New Corner — Tinubu

Published

1 week ago

October 1, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, assured citizens that the country has overcome its toughest challenges and is on the path to recovery.

Honouring the Founding Fathers

Tinubu paid tribute to the sacrifices of Nigeria’s independence leaders, including Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Anthony Enahoro, Michael Okpara, Aminu Kano, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
“They believed it was Nigeria’s manifest destiny to lead the black race as the largest black nation on earth,” he said.

Journey So Far

Reflecting on six decades of nationhood, the President noted that Nigeria had endured a civil war, military dictatorships, and political crises but survived with “courage and grit.”
“At Independence, Nigeria had only 120 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions. Today, we have over 23,000 secondary schools, 274 universities, 183 polytechnics, and 236 colleges of education,” he said, adding that the country had made “remarkable progress” in healthcare, telecommunications, aviation, and infrastructure.

Tough Reforms, Signs of Recovery

Tinubu said he inherited a fragile economy distorted by decades of poor policies but chose reform over inaction.
“Our administration ended the corrupt fuel subsidy regime and abolished multiple foreign exchange rates that enriched a few while impoverishing the majority,” he stated.
According to him, the measures are yielding results:

GDP grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025, the fastest in four years.
Inflation fell to 20.12% in August, the lowest in three years.
₦20 trillion was realised from non-oil revenue by August.
Debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from 97% to below 50%.
Foreign reserves climbed to $42.03 billion, the highest since 2019.
Oil output rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day, while Nigeria refined petrol domestically for the first time in four decades.
The stock market surged from 55,000 points in May 2023 to 142,000 points by September 2025.

“The worst is over. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to today’s relief,” the President declared.

Tackling Insecurity

Tinubu said security agencies were making gains against insurgency, separatism, and banditry.
“Hundreds of communities have been liberated, with thousands of displaced persons returning home. We salute the gallantry of our armed forces,” he said.

Investing in Youth

Describing young people as Nigeria’s “greatest asset,” Tinubu highlighted ongoing programmes:

NELFUND Student Loans: ₦99.5bn disbursed to 510,000 students.
Credicorp Loans: ₦30bn given to 153,000 Nigerians for solar, housing, transport, and digital devices.
YouthCred: Credit support extended to NYSC members.
iDICE Programme: Partnership with AfDB, AFD, and IsDB to boost innovation in digital and creative sectors.

Call for Collective Effort

Acknowledging that reforms have caused temporary hardship, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain steadfast.
“Our progress must not be measured by statistics alone, but by food on our tables, quality of education, electricity in our homes, and safety in our communities,” he said.

He called on citizens to embrace productivity, pay taxes, support local industries, and contribute to nation-building.
“The dawn of a new Nigeria is here — self-reliant, prosperous, and united. With God on our side, we will overcome. Let all hands be on deck,” he concluded.

Would you like me to compress this further into a shorter news report (around 6–7 tight paragraphs) for quick-read media, or keep it as a detailed feature-style recap like this one?

Headlines

Bandit Kingpin Releases 28 Captives in Katsina Following Peace Deal

Published

3 weeks ago

September 17, 2025

Our Reporter

A total of 28 persons abducted by suspected bandits in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have been released without ransom following a peace arrangement with bandit kingpin.

The bandits, led by their commander identified as Isya Akwashi Garwa, handed over the captives to officials of the council on Wednesday.

Zagazola reports that those released were largely residents of Mairua, Kanen-haki and Yar Dabaru communities.

Local authorities confirmed that the release was the outcome of a reconciliation effort initiated in the area to restore peace and reduce violent attacks.

Community leaders in Faskari described the development as a positive signal and urged both sides to sustain the peace process. They also urged the bandit to force other bandits still attacking in the area to stop.

A council official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The captives were released this afternoon without any ransom being paid. The bandit leader fulfilled his promise under the peace talks,”he said.

Meanwhile, residents expressed relief at the safe return of the abductees, with some calling for stronger security guarantees to consolidate the gesture.