BudgIT Slams Finance Ministry for Violating Fiscal Law, Demands Immediate Release of Budget Reports

BudgIT, a prominent civic-tech organisation advocating for public finance transparency in Nigeria, has called out the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office of the Federation for allegedly violating the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. The group accused the agencies of failing to publish the legally mandated Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports (BIRs), a key tool for public accountability.

In a statement released by its Group Senior Communications Associate, Nancy Odimegwu, and made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, BudgIT described the omission as a clear breach of the law, a break from long-standing practice, and a major setback to transparency reforms initiated by previous administrations.

Citing Section 30 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, BudgIT stressed that the Minister of Finance is required to publish BIRs in both mass and electronic media — including on the ministry’s website — no later than 30 days after the end of each quarter. These reports are meant to track how the annual budget is being implemented and provide critical insight into government spending and service delivery.

However, BudgIT revealed that no BIRs have been made public since at least the second quarter of 2024 — meaning that by mid-2025, nearly four quarterly reports are overdue. The organisation noted that, in contrast, the previous administration regularly published at least three BIRs each year.

“Budget Implementation Reports are not just legal obligations — they serve as evidence of a government’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” the statement read. “They allow the public to scrutinise how funds are spent and assess the quality of budget execution and service delivery.”

BudgIT further criticised the administration for neglecting other transparency platforms, notably OpenTreasury.gov, which once offered detailed data on federal government expenditures. The platform, once seen as a symbol of openness, has not been updated since January 2025.

“Although imperfect, OpenTreasury was a significant step toward accountability. Its dormancy, along with the absence of BIRs, is deeply troubling,” the group added.

BudgIT warned that the lack of public financial disclosures undermines private sector confidence, civil society advocacy, and academic research, while signalling to the international community that Nigeria is regressing in fiscal transparency.

The organisation also called on the federal government to release the Federal Cash Plan Disbursement Schedule, as stipulated by Section 26 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

In its appeal, BudgIT urged President Bola Tinubu and all relevant ministries to uphold the law and immediately release the overdue reports to restore public trust and accountability in government financial management.