The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called for investigations into alleged irregularities in the 2026 Appropriation Act, questioning N8.05 billion allocated to church and mosque projects and alleging that funds meant for educating out-of-school children were diverted to unrelated projects.
At a state of the nation briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, CHRICED Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, urged the Budget Office, the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate what the organisation described as questionable budget allocations and restore integrity to the budget process.
Citing an analysis by Tracka, an initiative of BudgIT, CHRICED said the 2026 budget earmarked N8.05 billion for church and mosque projects through ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), including N6.14 billion for 52 mosque-related projects and N1.91 billion for seven church projects.
The organisation also questioned the allocation of N780 million by the Office of the Deputy Speaker for church musical instruments.
“It is difficult to justify spending public funds on projects outside the statutory mandates of government agencies when millions of Nigerians are struggling with hunger, unemployment and poor access to healthcare and education,” Zikirullahi said.
CHRICED also criticised the allocation of N6.44 billion for FIFA World Cup qualifying activities despite Nigeria’s failure to qualify, N500 million for an international communications campaign to counter allegations of religious persecution and a US$9 million contract awarded to a United States lobbying firm to improve Nigeria’s image.
Almajiri Commission Funds
The organisation also alleged that funds meant for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education were diverted to projects unrelated to the commission’s mandate.
According to CHRICED, billions of naira from the commission’s N22.8 billion allocation were earmarked for road construction, solar streetlights and empowerment programmes in Ogun, Katsina and Ekiti states instead of initiatives targeted at reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Among the projects it highlighted were N1.4 billion for roads in Abeokuta, ₦1.05 billion for roads in Ipokia Ward 2, N1.4 billion for roads in Imeko and Idogo, N1.05 billion for internal roads in Katsina, N700 million for solar streetlights in Katsina and N700 million for women and youth empowerment tools.
“These are not education projects. They are diversions,” Zikirullahi said.
Rising Debt
CHRICED also expressed concern over Nigeria’s public debt, which it said stood at N159.28 trillion despite the removal of fuel subsidy, the introduction of new taxes and government claims of improved revenue.
The organisation questioned why ministries, departments and agencies continued to complain of poor budget releases while government borrowing increased and annual budgets were repeatedly extended.
It argued that extending the 2024 and 2025 budgets into 2026 had weakened legislative oversight and undermined the credibility of annual appropriations.
Other Concerns
Beyond the budget, CHRICED called for the suspension of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, pending investigations into the alleged N1.3 billion Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council scandal.
It also urged the suspension of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, pending an independent investigation into the death of 26-year-old nurse Mary Habila at his country home.
The organisation welcomed the conviction of those responsible for the Oriire school abduction but called on security agencies to clarify conflicting accounts of how the victims regained their freedom and investigate allegations surrounding ransom payments.
CHRICED also raised concerns over what it described as increasing intimidation of opposition political parties, alleging arbitrary arrests, disruption of political activities and the misuse of security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It urged President Bola Tinubu to strengthen fiscal discipline and accountability, while calling on the National Assembly to restore credibility to the budget process.
The organisation also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to remain neutral and safeguard democratic freedoms as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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