Nigeria Senate President Godswill Akpabio Faces Criticism Over Budget Padding Scandal

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been urged to explain how the national budget became riddled with fictitious projects and agencies. The criticism references a 2016 scandal uncovered by House Appropriations Chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin, who alleged that about 2,000 unauthorized projects worth over ₦284 billion were inserted into the budget. The current 2026 budget spans 2,790 pages, providing space for similar padding, with examples such as a Federal College of Education in Anambra constructing roads in Lagos, far from its location. Commentators describe the situation as a “bazaar” of hustlers exploiting budget processes, calling for transparency and accountability from the Senate leadership.