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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has issued a stern warning regarding the 2025 Federal Budget of Restoration, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability.
In a statement released by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the organisation condemned practices such as budget padding and questionable allocations, particularly funds earmarked for defunct ministries.
CISLAC stated, “Allocating funds to scrapped ministries reflects a lack of proper needs assessment and accountability.” The organisation called for urgent reforms to restore public trust in the budgeting process, highlighting that “the recurrent exploitation of budget processes for unmonitored constituency projects undermines genuine needs.”
The group referenced the Auditor-General’s report, which revealed irregular payments exceeding ₦197.72 billion across various ministries between 2020 and 2021. “These systemic lapses in financial compliance are alarming,” CISLAC noted, urging the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees to take decisive action against mismanagement.
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CISLAC also demanded integrity in the budget process amidst allegations of extortion and fraudulent insertions by legislators. “To clear these allegations, members of the National Assembly must ensure that the 2025 budget is transparent and credible,” they asserted.
Furthermore, CISLAC criticised parastatals receiving statutory allocations without delivering results, insisting that “the Auditor-General’s recommendations must guide this process.” They called for improved legislative oversight, stating that members should engage meaningfully beyond mere presentations.
In addition, CISLAC appealed to anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to monitor the budget process closely. “The impact of this budget must be felt by Nigerians, not lost to fraud and padding,” they concluded.
As Nigeria prepares for the implementation of this ambitious fiscal plan, CISLAC reiterated its demand for a budget that reflects the aspirations of its citizens, underscoring the critical need for accountability and disciplined execution.
