Civic-tech organisation BudgIT Nigeria has called on citizens to take an active role in monitoring how government funds are disbursed and utilised, stressing that transparency and accountability are crucial as the country prepares for 2025 capital releases.
The organisation issued the call in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, while commending the federal government for what it described as a positive step toward fiscal discipline the clearance of over N2 trillion in outstanding capital budget arrears from the 2024 fiscal year.
BudgIT said the move by the government signalled a renewed commitment to addressing delays in capital funding that often hamper development projects, but added that sustained oversight by citizens was necessary to ensure such funds deliver visible benefits across states and local governments.
BudgIT, which has worked for over a decade to improve public finance accountability in Nigeria, hailed the clearance of arrears as a milestone. According to the group, long-standing challenges around late or incomplete capital releases have slowed the execution of vital projects in sectors such as roads, hospitals, schools, and energy.
“This settlement of arrears is a step in the right direction for fiscal transparency. It shows that the government is willing to clear backlogs and give contractors and project implementers the confidence to deliver,” BudgIT said.
The group urged that the momentum be maintained as attention shifts to the 2025 budget cycle, noting that predictable capital releases would strengthen Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery and boost investor confidence.
In its statement, BudgIT also drew attention to improvements in the financial standing of subnational governments. It said fiscal surpluses across the states had grown from N2.8 trillion in 2023 to N7.1 trillion in 2024, reflecting stronger revenue inflows and better fiscal management.
The organisation argued that with such expanded fiscal space, states now have more resources to invest directly in critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education. It warned, however, that without transparency and citizen oversight, the benefits of these fiscal gains might not reach the communities that need them most.
“States have more resources at their disposal. What matters now is how those resources are used. We must ensure they translate to improved services in classrooms, hospitals, roads, and water supply systems,” BudgIT said.
To strengthen public oversight, BudgIT urged Nigerians to make use of its digital tracking platforms yourtracka.org and govspend.ng. Both platforms provide access to data on budget allocations, project locations, and disbursements, allowing citizens to monitor how public funds are spent in their localities.
Through Tracka, BudgIT has documented over 40,000 community projects since its launch in 2014, encouraging citizens to follow up on implementation and report abandoned or poorly executed projects. GovSpend, on the other hand, provides data on government procurement and transactions, enabling greater scrutiny of contracts and spending patterns.
“Citizens should track government funds. We want to see public funds work for the people,” BudgIT wrote. “Increasing revenue should translate to increasing development across all states, LGAs, and communities.”
The group noted that budget monitoring is not only the responsibility of civil society but of every Nigerian who wishes to see improvements in governance.
Observers say the call by BudgIT is timely. Nigeria has a long history of budget underperformance, with billions in capital allocations often unspent or mismanaged. Even when funds are released, projects are sometimes left abandoned or completed to poor standards.
Experts argue that greater citizen involvement in monitoring spending can serve as a deterrent to corruption and waste. Community members are often best placed to verify whether a road was truly constructed, a borehole drilled, or a health centre rehabilitated as captured in the budget.
BudgIT’s platforms make such monitoring possible, but uptake remains limited. The group has therefore been running awareness campaigns to encourage wider participation, especially among young Nigerians who are active on social media and can quickly share reports of irregularities.
As Nigeria approaches the 2025 fiscal year, the issue of capital budget releases is expected to be central to public debate. The 2024 budget, worth about N28.7 trillion, allocated significant sums to capital expenditure, but much of it was delayed due to revenue shortfalls and cash flow challenges.
By clearing arrears, the federal government has signalled an intention to improve its budgeting credibility. But analysts caution that unless oil revenues stabilize and non-oil revenues expand, the risk of further arrears in 2025 remains.
For citizens, this makes monitoring disbursements all the more urgent. Early detection of delays or diversions can help pressure authorities into course correction before projects are abandoned.
