BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organization promoting transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Nigeria, expresses profound disappointment about the dubious items listed in the Public Procurement Awards reported by Nigerian state governments for the 2023 2nd and 3rd quarters.

A vivid example was Funsho Doherty’s open letter to the Lagos State Government on November 18, 2023. In the letter, Funsho Doherty, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party, notified the public about obscure projects awarded to contractors by the Lagos State Government in the second quarter of the year. The letter emphasized extravagant expenditures such as the allocation of N7,400,000 to replace liquid fragrance in the governor’s office, N2,017,840,000 to replace rechargeable lamps and fans in the deputy governor’s office, and N535,500,000 for a church renovation. These expenditures are disturbing, given the state’s current debt stock of N996,440,044,235.35.

We also noticed Delta State pulled down its procurement website before it could be scrutinized and later restored it after public outcry from concerned citizens.

BudgIT, as a fervent advocate for transparency, uses this opportunity to advise and call on all well-meaning Nigerians to pay attention to their state’s financial appropriation, budget implementation reports, and procurement details.