Exposed Overlapping Allocations: Tinubu’s Economic Planning Minister Spends Billions on ICT and Still Budgets ₦1 Billion for “Digitalization”

Secrets Reporters

A startling review of official budget documents has uncovered what appears to be a case of duplicative and overlapping funding by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, headed by the Minister, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, raising serious concerns over fiscal prudence, transparency, and possible financial mismanagement within the corridors of the nation’s economic planning headquarters.

SecretsReporters obtained the 2024 Capital Budget Performance Report of the Ministry, as submitted to the National Assembly ahead of its pre-oversight joint session with the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs/Development. The document, which was reviewed in detail, shows that while the Ministry allocated billions of naira to various technology-related projects ranging from procurement of computers to acquisition of software licenses, cybersecurity tools, disaster recovery systems, and even an ICT strategic roadmap, it still went ahead to earmark an additional staggering ₦1 billion under a curious and separately listed item tagged “Digitization of Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning HQTRS.”

The said ₦1 billion digitization allocation was captured under the programme code ERGP 27213103. As at October 18, 2024, records show that ₦134,776,914.01 had already been spent from this vote, leaving a balance of ₦865,223,085.99. However, what stands out as a red flag is that the Ministry had already fully implemented several capital projects with overlapping or outright similar objectives, costing hundreds of millions in public funds. For instance, under separate codes, funds were allocated and reportedly expended on the acquisition of computer software, enterprise antivirus solutions, computer hardware such as laptops and printers, backup power systems for the data centre, disaster recovery certifications, web and mobile development training, server infrastructure, and a strategic ICT roadmap. The performance report confirms that each of these sub-projects was not only appropriated for but also fully funded and executed, with no balances left to be accounted for.

The question that arises is why the Ministry would again isolate “Digitization” as a separate capital line item to the tune of ₦1 billion when it had already executed similar initiatives just under different headings. For example, ₦35 million was fully spent on the “Implementation of Electronic Document Management and Archiving of all Account Records,” ₦10 million was expended on developing an ICT strategic roadmap for the Ministry, ₦75 million was allocated and spent on establishing a modelling and economic intelligence unit, and an additional ₦35 million was paid out for computer software and antivirus solutions. There were also separate allocations for laptops, printers, UPS units, disaster recovery certifications, and even Cisco and Oracle technology trainings—all of which point to an already ongoing or completed process of digital transformation within the Ministry.

Yet, the ₦1 billion for digitization remains the largest single technology-related allocation in the Ministry’s 2024 capital vote, raising fears among stakeholders that this may be a veiled avenue for re-routing public funds under a broad and ambiguous label. Despite spending on tangible ICT deliverables, no detailed breakdown was provided in the document to explain what specific new activity the “digitization” project entails, how it differs from the existing technology programs, or how it intends to utilize the nearly ₦1 billion it was given.

Fiscal accountability watchdogs have long criticized Nigerian Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for duplicating budget lines under vague terminologies to justify inflated expenditures. The case of the Budget Ministry—which ironically oversees the national planning and budgetary system—coming under scrutiny for this practice has only deepened public concern about the integrity of Nigeria’s budgeting process. Several experts who spoke to SecretsReporters on condition of anonymity described the move as a clever layering of figures to enable multiple streams of procurement around the same theme.

The document further reveals that the Ministry was able to fully expend its votes on almost all the other ICT-related projects within the first ten months of the year, indicating an unusual level of implementation speed. It also shows that the ₦1 billion digitization project is the only one among the ICT-related allocations where a significant balance remains, potentially setting the stage for large disbursements before the year ends.

Stakeholders and civil society groups who spoke to SecretsReporters are urging the relevant committees to seek clarity on how these funds are being managed and why digital infrastructure continues to be recycled in budget books under different disguises. The ₦1 billion in question, they argue, could have gone into more pressing national development needs instead of being buried under redundant project headings that serve little purpose beyond enabling unchecked expenditure.