The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised alarm over the 2025 Federal Budget of Restoration, urging the Federal Government to uphold transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the needs of Nigerians.

In a statement issued by Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), CISLAC’s Executive Director, the organization criticized the inclusion of questionable allocations in the budget, including funds earmarked for scrapped ministries such as the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Ministry of Sports. CISLAC described this as evidence of poor needs assessment and a lack of accountability, calling for immediate reforms to restore public confidence in the budgetary process.

The group also denounced the practice of budget padding and the misuse of funds for constituency projects that lack proper legal and monitoring frameworks. It argued that these projects often violate public procurement laws and fail to address the genuine needs of citizens.

Referring to the Auditor-General’s report, CISLAC highlighted irregular payments amounting to ₦197.72 billion across various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) between 2020 and 2021. These lapses, which include financial non-compliance and procurement irregularities, were described as alarming indicators of systemic mismanagement. The organization called on the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly to take decisive action in recovering misappropriated funds and addressing these violations.

CISLAC further urged the National Assembly to conduct the budget process with integrity, amidst allegations of extortion and fraudulent insertions of budget items. “To clear the allegations against them, members of the National Assembly must ensure the 2025 budget is transparent, credible, and free of malpractice,” the group asserted.

The organization also criticized the continued funding of underperforming parastatals and advocated for strict adherence to the Auditor-General’s recommendations. “Nigerians deserve a budget that aligns with the President’s objectives, not one marred by scandals, allocations to non-existent entities, and project duplications,” CISLAC emphasized.

Additionally, CISLAC called on anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to monitor the budget process and investigate fraudulent activities. “The impact of this budget must be felt by Nigerians, not lost to fraud and padding,” the statement stressed.

As Nigeria prepares for the implementation of the 2025 budget, CISLAC reiterated its demand for a fiscal plan that prioritizes accountability, transparency, and disciplined execution to ensure the budget delivers measurable benefits to the people.