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This is despite the fact that the functions of the ministry do not include spending on behalf of or for the INEC.
A SaharaReporters’ review of the published final approved 2025 budget by the Nigerian government Nigeria has shown that a sum of N1billion was earmarked by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the renovation of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ogun State, which is in the southwestern region of the country.
This is despite the fact that the functions of the ministry do not include spending on behalf of or for the INEC.
Official details show that the functions of the ministry revolve around driving national development by promoting science, technology, and innovation (STI).
It serves as a platform for government agencies and state ministries to collaborate, applying STI to address various national challenges.
It is unclear how the ministry became involved in budgeting for the renovation of INEC offices in Nigeria.
The 2025 budget of the country has been a subject of controversy.
Earlier, a civic tech organisation, BudgIT, raised the alarm over massive insertions into Nigeria’s 2025 federal budget by the National Assembly, revealing that 11,122 projects worth a staggering N6.93 trillion were embedded into the fiscal plan with minimal justification or alignment with national priorities.
In a detailed analysis, BudgIT reported that 238 projects—each valued above N5 billion and totaling N2.29 trillion—were included without transparent rationale. An additional 984 projects worth N1.71 trillion and 1,119 projects ranging between N500 million and N1 billion—adding up to N641.38 billion—were flagged as indiscriminately inserted.
“These insertions reflect a deepening pattern of budgetary abuse,” BudgIT stated. “They divert resources from critical national development needs and are often driven by political expediency rather than strategic planning.”
Further analysis of the data shows that 3,573 projects worth N653.19 billion are linked to federal constituencies, while 1,972 projects valued at N444.04 billion were assigned to senatorial districts.
Among the most controversial entries are:
1,477 streetlight projects totaling N393.29 billion, 538 borehole projects worth N114.53 billion, 2,122 ICT-related projects amounting to N505.79 billion, N6.74 billion tagged for the ‘empowerment of traditional rulers.
A particularly alarming finding is that 39% of all insertions—totaling 4,371 projects valued at N1.72 trillion—were funneled into the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget, inflating its capital allocation from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion.
The Ministries of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning also saw budget inflations of N994.98 billion and N1.1 trillion respectively due to these insertions.
BudgIT also highlighted the misuse of agencies such as the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) in Lagos and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, which have become conduits for projects outside their mandates.
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