A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations has urged greater transparency and public participation in the federal budgeting process, following the recent repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly.
In a media statement released on Tuesday, the groups, including the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), expressed concern over what they described as opaque and unaccountable practices in the management of public funds. They noted that even eighteen days after the federal budget presentation, the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) and the National Assembly had yet to upload the documents online, leaving citizens without access to essential information. The repeal and re-enactment bills for the 2024 and 2025 budgets were also reportedly unavailable on any public platform, limiting opportunities for meaningful civic engagement.
The organisations criticised the extension of the 2024 budget and its increase from ₦35.05 trillion to ₦43.56 trillion without prior legislative approval. They argued that such actions violate Sections 80 and 81 of the Constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which require that public expenditure be approved by the legislature before funds are spent. They further highlighted concerns over the mid-December review of the 2025 budget, noting that amendments should follow proper mid-year procedures rather than arbitrary adjustments at the end of the fiscal year.
The civil society coalition warned that allowing public funds to be spent outside constitutional approval sets a dangerous precedent for fiscal governance and accountability. They emphasised that citizens have a right to access budget information and participate in discussions on national spending priorities.
The groups called on the government to ensure that no expenditure occurs without prior appropriation and to commit to spending only what has been approved by the legislature. They also demanded the immediate publication of the 2026 federal budget alongside the 2024 and 2025 repeal and re-enactment bills and acts, stressing the importance of transparency in rebuilding public trust. Finally, they urged the government to guarantee full public participation in all future budgetary and fiscal processes, in line with constitutional provisions and international best practices for open governance.
The statement was signed by CSJ, ANEEJ, CISLAC, PRIMEORG, PLSI, and BudgIT, representing a wide network of organisations advocating for fiscal responsibility and accountability in Nigeria.
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