This represents an addition of N45.36 billion, following the insertion of 182 projects into the budget.
The National Assembly has inflated the 2024 budget for the Federal Co-operative College, Ibadan, Oyo State from the proposed N1.5 billion to a staggering N46.9 billion.
This represents an addition of N45.36 billion, following the insertion of 182 projects into the budget.
BudgIT Foundation, a civic tech organisation, recalls that the Federal Co-operative College, Ibadan, initially submitted a modest 2024 capital project proposal of N1.5 billion to the National Assembly.
However, the approved figure was inflated with several projects, including the construction of solar-powered streetlights, renewable energy intervention in rural communities, and motorised boreholes for farming communities.
“In the review of the 2025 proposed budget, we call on the National Assembly to prioritise national interests over personal interests,” BudgIT stated.
Among the projects listed in the approved 2024 budget are: Construction of solar-powered streetlights across selected communities for sustainability; energy poverty intervention in selected rural cooperators' settlements; and the construction of sports complexes and floodlights for farming communities in Ipoti Ekiti.
The budget also includes N498 million each for the construction of roads in rural farming communities, such as Nazareth Road in Imeko, Lafenwa Alagbe Road in Ilara, and Sabo Road in Owode.
BudgIT Foundation has urged stakeholders to ensure transparency in public spending, especially as these inflated allocations could undermine critical sectors in need of funding.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the National Assembly in the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act, increased the budget for the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos by about N40 billion.
According to a BudgIT report, the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos State in Southwest Nigeria submitted a proposed budget of N667million to the National Assembly for 2024.
However, the civic organisation, which raises the standards of transparency, citizen engagement and accountability, especially in public finance, said the National Assembly approved N40.88billion for the college.