Budget Insertions Promote Fair Distribution of Projects – Senate Appropriation Chair

Budget Insertions Promote Fair Distribution of Projects – Senate Appropriation Chair

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola, has defended lawmakers’ use of budget insertions, describing them as vital mechanisms for ensuring fair distribution of projects throughout Nigeria.

Speaking at the second annual retreat of the Remo Traditional Council in Sagamu, Ogun State, the Ogun West senator emphasized that budget insertions—often wrongly labeled as “padding”—are crucial legislative measures that bring federal resources to underserved communities.

“Without these contributions from lawmakers, many areas would continue to be overlooked in the national budget,” Adeola stated, stressing that these insertions reflect the real needs of constituents and promote balanced national development.

He further explained that since 1999, there have been many misunderstandings about the legislature’s role in the budgeting process, with terms like budget padding, insertions, and constituency projects often misused to unfairly criticize lawmakers.

He described the budget as not just a document containing numbers but a policy document diligently prepared to serve the interests and well-being of Nigerians holistically.

According to a statement on Sunday from his media aide, Kayode Odunaro, Adeola, while delivering a lecture themed “The Role of Legislature in Shaping a Holistic Budget for Nigeria,” lamented that the legislature was often wrongly portrayed as a villain in the budgeting process.

“There is a lot of misinformation and sometimes outright falsehood out there on the issue of budget in Nigeria. The legislature is often wrongly portrayed as the villain in our budgeting process.

“Accusations relating to the budget like ‘budget padding’, ‘insertions’ and ‘constituency projects’ are regularly thrown around in the media against the legislature, creating confusion and casting aspersions on parliamentarians among citizens,” he said.

Taking the traditional rulers through the nitty-gritty of the budget process in Nigeria, the senator said Sections 80 to 84 of the 1999 Constitution gave the National Assembly the sole power of appropriation over public funds.

He added that the power meant that before any kobo would be spent from the national treasury, it must first be approved by the National Assembly.

“The legislature must ensure that no part of the country is neglected. And let us note that the needs of each area of Nigeria in terms of development are multi-faceted and diverse.

“This is why each senator and member of the House of Representatives is expected to make inputs based on the needs of their constituents and constituencies for possible inclusion in the budget.

“If successful, this is not budget padding or insertions but using legislative power for the interest of the people,” he said.

The lawmaker said what was regarded as budget padding or insertion and sold to the public as bad over the years were legislative interventions in the budgetary process without which some areas of the country would never have any “federal presence” in terms of development.

“This is a democracy—government of the people, by the people, and for the people in action,” the senator remarked.

He explained that constituency projects, which allocate a specified sum for each legislator and are included in the budget for every federal constituency and senatorial district, are typically managed by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government for implementation. These projects should not be mistaken for budget padding or insertions.

Adeola further clarified that, contrary to public perception, no funds are directly handed over to legislators for constituency projects, as the responsibility for procurement and execution rests entirely with the MDAs.

He also pledged his support for establishing a constitutional role for traditional rulers in Nigeria, highlighting their vital contributions to good governance, peacebuilding, security, and community development.

Expressing gratitude for the senator’s efforts, including the installation of solar street lights and other projects across the state, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, stated that the retreat was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of traditional rulers and attracting further development to Remoland.

Oba Ajayi added that Remoland deserves a federal educational institution and should not be sidelined if the proposed Ijebu State is eventually created.