The National Assembly is embroiled in a fresh Budget Padding Scandal after an investigation by BudgIT has revealed that the proposed Budget for the Federal College of Horticultural Technology, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe State, was inflated from N368 million to N42 Billion.

BudgIT Foundation, a Nigerian civic tech organization committed to promoting transparency and fostering citizen engagement for institutional reforms, announced that there were significant irregularities in the 2024 budget process.

According to BudgIT, the college, situated in Northeastern Nigeria, initially submitted a proposed budget of ₦368 million for the 2024 fiscal year. However, the National Assembly approved an inflated allocation of ₦42.7 billion, resulting in an extraordinary discrepancy of ₦42.332 billion—an increase of over 5,000%.

This revelation was highlighted in a BudgIT social media statement on Tuesday: “From ₦368 million to ₦42.7 billion!!! For the 2024 fiscal year, the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe, initially proposed ₦368 million. However, the National Assembly approved ₦42.7 billion. A difference of ₦42 billion!!! @nassnigeria, kindly do the right thing and uphold integrity during the 2025 budget review.”

BudgIT further disclosed that the additional funds were allocated to 12 projects unrelated to the college’s mandate. These projects, many located outside the institution’s jurisdiction, included the supply and installation of solar streetlights, boreholes, motorcycles, and other community infrastructure, most of which are in states far removed from Gombe.

Among the inserted projects were:

Solar streetlights in constituencies across Osun, Edo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Oyo, Lagos, and Kogi States (₦1.6 billion).

Classroom construction, boreholes, and transformer installations in federal constituencies nationwide (₦1.5 billion).

Solar-powered boreholes in Kebbi, Oyo, Katsina, Benue, Akwa Ibom, and Edo States (₦1 billion).

Provision of mini-buses for human capital development in Saala Orile, Ibatefin, and Orelope (₦1 billion).

Construction and furnishing of community schools in Maun and Mayigi (₦1 billion).

Solar-powered streetlights in rural farming communities of K. Kusar/Shani federal constituency (₦600 million).

Solar streetlights for communities in Bassa, Kogi State (₦500 million).

Distribution of Bajaj tricycles for unemployed individuals in Lagos (₦500 million).

Construction of solar-powered boreholes in various locations in Sokoto and Bauchi states (N495,926,518)

Construction of classrooms in various locations in Kano State (N495,926,518)

Supply of assorted food items for distribution as palliative across Maiduguri metropolitan federal constituency, Borno State (N200,000,000).