Nigeria's Budget Promises Fail to Deliver Development

The article discusses the disparity between budget promises and actual development outcomes in Nigeria, particularly through the lens of grassroots projects. It highlights that over two decades, public funds have increasingly served as a drain rather than a conduit for development, with only 11% of 24,553 projects captured in the national budget completed.

A report by Tracka indicates that of 2,760 projects monitored across 28-30 states, only 1,438 were completed, while many others are either ongoing, abandoned, or fraudulent. Notably, N15.07 billion was disbursed for 92 fraudulent projects, with N8.61 billion concentrated in five states: Imo, Lagos, Kwara, Abia, and Ogun.

The article also mentions that despite increased fiscal inflows, states struggle to provide basic infrastructure. Joshua OsiYemi, head of Tracka, and Oluseun Onigbind, executive director of Budgit, emphasize that budget allocations do not guarantee delivery, underscoring the need for citizen oversight to ensure accountability.