When the Budget Is No Longer a Fiscal Control

 By Kareem Abdulrasaq

In February this year, the Senate Committee on Appropriations summoned the federal government's economic team and delivered a blunt verdict: the revenue assumptions behind the proposed ₦58.47 trillion 2026 budget were unrealistic, oil projections were not credible, and capital implementation in recent years had been so poor that lawmakers openly asked whether the budget should be cut. The committee chairman pointed to oil revenue performance of 18 per cent in one recent year and asked how anyone could project 36.5 per cent the next. Weeks later, the same National Assembly passed the budget not reduced, but enlarged by more than ₦9trillion, to ₦68.32 trillion, the largest appropriation in Nigeria's history. A parliament that declares a budget too optimistic and responds by making it bigger is telling us something important: the annual budget has stopped functioning as an instrument of fiscal control. It survives as a ritual,va bargaining table, and a signalling document. But the thing a budget exists to do bind the state to a credible plan for raising and spending public money is no longer happening.

What a budget is for

An appropriation act is supposed to performtwo functions at once. It authorises spending, and it limits it. The ceiling is the point. When the ceiling moves whenever it is inconvenient, when revenue targets are set with no serious expectation of being met, and when money is spent outside the document entirely, the budget becomes what accountants would call a memorandum item: recorded, gazetted, ceremonially signed and not binding on anyone.

Consider the evidence from just the current cycle. The revenue numbers are fiction, and everyone involved knows it. The federal government itself admitted realising only about ₦10 trillion of the ₦40 trillion revenue it targeted for 2025, a performance rate of roughly 25 per cent. The head of the Nigeria Revenue Service put it plainly to

senators: if you think you have ten naira and plan with a hundred in mind, you create problems for yourself. Yet the 2026 framework projects ₦36.87 trillion in revenue against ₦68.32 trillion in

expenditure, a deficit larger than the entire realised revenue of last year. When the projections failed to add up, the borrowing plan was quietly raised mid-course from₦17.89 trillion to ₦29.20

trillion. A budget whose financing plan can expand by ₦11 trillion after passage is not controlling anything; it is chasing events.

The ceiling floats upward on contact. The ₦9 trillion added between proposal and passage was framed as accommodating "legacy commitments." Some of it genuinely regularises unpaid obligations to contractors, itself an indictment of earlier budgets. But the enlargement also

carried the familiar cargo of constituency insertions. Only this week, the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children's Education publicly distanced itself from projects in its own budget, explaining that they were National Assembly constituency projects assigned to it for

implementation, these projects it neither conceived nor considers within its mandate. When an agency created to tackle the out-of-school children crisis is statutorily obliged to execute unrelated projects nominated by lawmakers, appropriation has been inverted: the legislature is no longer scrutinizing the executive's spending plan; it is writing its own spending into other

people's mandates.

The fiscal year has dissolved. As of early 2026, the government was simultaneously paying for 2024 capital projects, implementing the 2025 capital budget (its deadline extended first to March, then to June 2026), and commencing the 2026 budget. Three appropriation acts running

concurrently means no single one of them describes what the state is actually doing with money at any moment. The government's promised "fiscal reset" ending overlapping budgets and chronic rollovers was the right diagnosis. The extension of the 2025 capital deadline into the middle of 2026 shows how quickly the cure was postponed.

The accountability loop never closes. Control is not only about what is approved; it is about consequences when approval is ignored. Ministries record zero releases against approved allocations, capital performance disappoints year after year, and the Auditor-General's findings

arrive late and are acted upon rarely. Nobody is sanctioned when an appropriation is not implemented; nobody is sanctioned when spending occurs outside it. A rule without consequences is advice.

Why citizens should care

This may sound like an argument for technicians. It is not. When the budget stops binding, the costs land on ordinary Nigerians through three channels. First, deficits that were never honestly planned get financed anyway, through debt whose servicing already consumes ₦15.81 trillion in

2026, more than the allocations to health and education combined, on a public debt stock that closed 2025 at about ₦159 trillion. Every naira of debt service is a naira pre-committed before a single teacher is paid. Second, unrealistic budgets guarantee arbitrary implementation. When only a fraction of projected revenue arrives, someone in the executive decides outside any appropriation debate which projects get funded and which get abandoned. The published budget promised everything; the cash office quietly chooses. That discretion is where influence, not need, determines outcomes, and it is the poorest constituencies, with the least voice, whose projects die first. Third, credibility compounds. Citizens asked to accept new taxes and tariff adjustments are entitled to ask what happened to the last trillions. A decade of budgets with no visible

connection between allocation and lived improvement has drained the social contract. Fiscal reform that raises revenue into a broken control systems imply feeds the leak.

Restoring the ceiling

The remedies are not mysterious, and civic organisations in Nigeria have pressed most of them: anchor budgets on independently stress-tested revenue baselines, with published sensitivity analyses for oil price, production and exchange-rate assumptions; hold mandatory mid-year reviews that adjust spending to actual revenue, in public, rather than letting the cash office ration in private. To these I would add four harder edges.

Cap in-year expansion. 

Any increase of the appropriation beyond a small threshold should require a supplementary budget with the same scrutiny as the original, not an accommodation folded into passage.

Publish constituency projects as data: sponsor, location, cost, implementing agency, and completion status, in machine-readable form. Insertion thrives in opacity; sunlight is cheap.

End the rollover economy with a genuine hard stop. Unspent capital should lapse and re-compete in the next budget, forcing realistic annual plans instead of a perpetual backlog that no one can audit.

Give budget failure a consequence. Accounting officers of MDAs with chronic non- implementation, and of agencies executing outside mandate, should answer publicly and the Auditor-General's reports should trigger time-bound responses enforced by the Public Accounts Committees.

None of this requires new theory. It requires the National Assembly to remember that its power of the purse is a duty of restraint, not a licence for insertion; and the executive to accept that a smaller budget that binds is worth more than a record budget that does not.

Nigeria has crossed ₦68 trillion on paper. The real milestone worth chasing is more modest and far rarer: a budget the government intends to keep. Until then, we should stop calling the annual document a fiscal plan. A budget that cannot say no to lawmakers, to ministries, to its own

assumptions is not a control. It is a wish list with a gazette number.

Kareem Abdulrasaq is a socioeconomic researcher based in Abuja, Nigeria. He writes on public finance, poverty, and development policy. He is an Agora Policy Writing Fellow (Cohort II) and a PhD candidate in Political Science (Political Economy and Development Studies) at Nasarawa State University.

Labour Minister Hails NSITF Reforms, Applauds Partnership With Gambia

The Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, has commended the Managing Director/CE of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, for the reforms he has instituted at the Fund.

He made the commendation when the Managing Director led the delegation of the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund of the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation, SSHFC of the Gambia, on a courtesy visit to the Minister on Monday.

Dr. Dingyadi expressed his delight for the visit of the Gambian delegation to Nigeria to “Interact and understudy our social insurance trust fund, ably led by Mr. Faleye, who has been doing tremendous work with the administration of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.”.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr  Kamil Shoretire, the Minister stated that “Our compensation mechanism has improved, and a lot of digitization is happening now to ensure that claims are attended to as soon as possible, while a lot of transformation that has been going on in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.”

On the partnership between NSITF and The Gambia’s SSHFC, the minister said “It is very important that the two countries exchange ideas on how to improve the lives of their citizens, particularly the working subsets of the population that those agencies primarily support, and also by extension, giving government the much-needed impetus to be able to attend to the needs of the large majority of the population.”

Continuing, he stressed that “Our own is an ongoing process. We have not reached where we want to be. And we also want to see what Gambia has been able to do, so that our fund too will be able to scale up the best practices you're going to share with us.”

In his response, NSITF’s Managing Director, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, expressed appreciation for the minister’s warm reception, while recalling that Nigeria and the Gambia have a long history of collaboration in different areas, which underscored the ongoing partnership between the two agencies.

“This exchange of ideas and collaboration has been in the making for a long time, and that's why when we received the request from the Gambian Social Security Institution to visit Nigeria for this engagement, we readily accepted.

“We accepted because we felt that our demographics, our background and dynamics are somewhat similar. We are, you know, even though we're a much more larger country, but when we look at the demographics in terms of the former market population, or look at the young age groups that you'll find in these countries, we have similarities across West Africa, indeed across Africa, and even if our institutions may differ, the issues that we deal with are similar, and we think that learning from each other will be very, very critical in dealing with the challenges that we both face in our respective countries.”

Recalling the last International Social Security Association (ISSA) workshop that was hosted by NSITF in sometime April this year, the MD noted that The Gambian delegation was in attendance alongside other countries in West Africa including Cape Verde, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, amongst others.

“It was a follow-up to that we had this request from Gambia to come for a few days to really see how we deal with achieving our mandate on a day-to-day basis, and we are glad that they made the time to come.

“We had our first session today where our internal teams from the respective departments have gone to the nitty-gritty of how we carry out our services.

“I'm hoping that in the next day or two they'll learn much more about how we do things. And we don't see this as learning from us alone; the interaction that we've been having also demonstrates to us the peculiarities of their own situations and how we can learn from that. But we felt that it was important to bring them here because we wanted to show that the labour ecosystem is united; this ministry is a supervising ministry; they articulate the policies, which we then seek to do.

Speaking during the visit to the Minister, the leader of the Gambian delegation, Pierre Gomez, expressed satisfaction with what they have experienced so far at NSITF, noting that “This is not our first time coming to NSITF. We've been here NSITF and Nigeria is our big brother and that is why we are coming back to our big brother on knowledge sharing and we can  share a lot of experience together.

“I'm very pleased with the transformation I've seen so far. I think I was here about a decade ago, and I've seen a lot of changes happen, so, it is imperative to come back and get that information or that knowledge from Nigeria, take it back and share with our colleagues before back home,” he stressed.

The Managing Director had earlier welcomed the delegation in his office, where he expressed the desire to collaborate and share knowledge, saying, “It’s important we share ideas on safety and hazards at the workplace and how to protect our workers. We hope to visit you in the future to interact with you on your operations. On behalf of the NSITF board, it's our honour and privilege to have you here”.

NSITF Hosts Gambian Delegation on Study Tour of Employees’ Compensation Scheme

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, on Monday, July 6,2026, formally opened a week-long study tour for the Board of the Industrial Injuries Compensation Fund of the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation, SSHFC, of The Gambia.

The study tour was declared open by the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, at the Fund’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

He said the visit is aimed at undertaking a comprehensive study of the operations and best practices of Nigeria’s Employees’ Compensation Scheme, ECS, and at strengthening institutional frameworks between the two organizations.

“This engagement is not merely procedural; it is a solemn occasion of historic significance,” Faleye told the guests, adding that “it provides a noble platform through which both institutions may exchange knowledge, compare experiences, and glean invaluable insights that will enrich our shared mission of delivering social security benefits to our citizens.”

Represented by the Executive Director, Administration, Barr. Samaila Abdu, the MD, said NSITF holds the partnership with SSHFC in the highest regard and expressed delight at receiving the delegation in Nigeria.

He noted that at the end of the exercise, he expects the lessons learned to advance the corporate aspirations of both NSITF and SSHFC, and ultimately benefit citizens of Nigeria and The Gambia.

The week-long engagement is expected to feature technical sessions, facility tours, and discussions on policy, administration, and service delivery under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.

The NSITF administers the ECS in Nigeria, which provides compensation for work-related injuries, diseases, and death, and promotes occupational safety and health in workplaces across the country.

Earlier in a welcome remark, the Executive Director Finance, Olufemi  Ayodele Samuel, had said the study tour was designed to foster cross-border cooperation and strategic collaboration in critical areas of industrial injuries compensation.

“On behalf of the Board and Management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and all relevant stakeholders in our social security and labour sector, I warmly welcome the Board of Directors and Management of the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) of The Gambia to NSITF.

“We are here to flag off a highly anticipated capacity-building and study visit. This engagement is designed to foster cross-border cooperation, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaboration in the critical areas of industrial injuries compensation and social security administration,” the ED, Finance and Investment had stated.

He expressed optimism that “This visit will offer a platform to explore practical frameworks for workplace accident prevention, disability benefits, and survivors' compensation. It is also an opportunity for NSITF and SSHFC to discuss the challenges of managing social protection funds and ensuring robust occupational health and safety standards.

“We hope this study tour will not only provide valuable insights into our operational procedures and claims tracking, but will also serve as a foundation for a lasting, mutually beneficial partnership”.

Also speaking at the flag off, the Executive Director (Operations) at NSITF, Barr Mojisola Alli Macaulay, welcomed the delegation to Nigeria and assured them of a robust study tour of the Fund’s operations, as NSITF is the standard for social security in Africa. She further enjoined them to enjoy the study tour.

Responding, the leader of the Gambian delegation and Chairman of the Board and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Employment, Lamine Camara, said the organization was in Nigeria to learn and share experiences and expressed delight for a partnership with NSITF.

According to him, “It's a way to sustain collaboration with sister organizations. We are here to learn from such engagement. We are motivated, and would be glad to share all the experiences we learn here back home.”

SSHFC is The Gambia’s statutory body responsible for social security and housing finance, including the administration of industrial injuries compensation.

NSITF MD Urges Partnership, Worker Protection at 5th NECA Summit

…Says ESG, reforms key to inclusive growth, enterprise competitiveness

Barrister Faleye (2nd from right), with other dignitaries at the Summit 

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has called for stronger collaboration between government, employers and workers to drive sustainable economic growth.

Faleye made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the 5th Annual Summit of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

Barrister Faleye making a presentation at the Summit 

The NSITF boss described the theme of the summit, “Leveraging Reforms and ESG for Enterprise Competitiveness and Inclusive National Growth“  as timely as businesses navigate policy reforms in the new economic realities.

“Across the country, businesses are adapting to reforms, responding to new realities and seeking innovative ways to remain competitive while creating value for society,” Faleye said.

Referencing a Nigerian adage, “The left hand washes the right, and the right hand washes the left,” he stressed that “lasting progress is built on partnership.”

According to him, “Government, employers and workers each have a role to play, and when we work together with trust and shared purpose, everyone benefits,”

noting that at NSITF, worker protection and enterprise competitiveness are viewed as complementary goals.

He argued that a safe, protected, and confident workforce is more productive and resilient, while businesses that invest in employee wellbeing build stronger, more sustainable institutions, and further highlighted the Employees’ Compensation Scheme as a critical pillar of social protection, saying it supports workers and gives employers “confidence to operate within a fair and predictable framework.”

“As Nigeria pursues economic reforms, we must remain deliberate in ensuring that growth is inclusive and that no segment of our workforce is left behind,” he stated.

Commending NECA for sustaining the platform, Faleye expressed confidence that the two-day Summit would “Generate practical ideas that will strengthen enterprise competitiveness and contribute meaningfully to our national development.”

The NECA Summit is an annual gathering of private sector leaders, policymakers and labour stakeholders to discuss issues shaping Nigeria’s business and economic environment.

NSITF and South Africa’s Rand Mutual Assurance Sign MoU on Technical Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange

MD/CE NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye (right), with Chief Executive of South Africa RMA, Mr. Bilal Adams 

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) of South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising a framework for institutional cooperation across social insurance administration, occupational health and safety, and employee compensation.

The agreement was signed on 25th June, 2026, at the conclusion of a three-day Strategic Technical Engagement and Bilateral Sessions hosted by NSITF at Fraser Suites, Abuja. The sessions brought together the management and technical teams of NSITF, led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, and RMA’s technical delegation, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bilal Adams.

Over the course of the three days, both delegations engaged in structured knowledge exchange, institutional benchmarking, and deliberations on potential areas of cooperation. 

Discussions spanned social insurance administration, occupational health and safety systems, injury prevention programmes, rehabilitation frameworks, actuarial modelling, and digital transformation — providing a substantive basis from which the MoU emerged.

“Any project, transaction, programme, investment, commercial arrangement or collaborative initiative arising from the MoU shall be subject to separate negotiations and the execution of definitive agreements, approved in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and the internal approval processes of each Party.” — MoU, Article on Implementation

The MoU sets out six areas of agreed cooperation. Chief among them is the facilitation of technical exchanges and capacity-building initiatives covering occupational health and safety, prevention programmes, rehabilitation frameworks, claims administration, actuarial modelling, and digital transformation. 

The two institutions also agreed to share technical information, research materials, and best-practice frameworks, subject to applicable confidentiality and regulatory requirements.

To operationalise the MoU, both organisations have committed to establishing a Joint Technical Working Group, comprising representatives from relevant departments on each side, tasked with identifying, developing, and coordinating collaborative activities. This structure is intended to ensure that the MoU translates into concrete, time-bound programmes rather than remaining a statement of intent.

The agreement further provides for joint exploration of prevention and incentive-based models adaptable to the operational framework of Nigeria’s Employees’ Compensation Scheme, as well as continued dialogue on digital transformation initiatives and technology benchmarking.

The MoU was jointly reviewed by the Legal Teams of both institutions prior to signing. The document is expressly non-binding and does not create legally enforceable obligations or impose immediate financial commitments on either Party. It serves as a statement of mutual intent, providing a structured framework to guide future engagement.

In a joint statement, NSITF and RMA reaffirmed their commitment to “fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange for the advancement of social insurance administration, workplace safety, rehabilitation services, and employee compensation systems.”

The partnership has drawn measured interest from sector stakeholders, who note that RMA — founded in 1894 and one of the oldest social security institutions on the continent — brings a deep body of operational experience to the relationship. For NSITF, the engagement represents an opportunity to benchmark against an established model as Nigeria continues to develop and strengthen its own social security architecture.

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is the statutory body mandated to administer the Employees’ Compensation Scheme under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010 and the NSITF Act.

Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) is a South African mutual assurance company established in 1894. It is one of the oldest social security institutions in the world, specialising in the administration of occupational injuries and diseases compensation.

The MoU was signed on 25th June, 2026, at Fraser Suites, Abuja, at the conclusion of a three-day bilateral engagement between both institutions.

NSITF, South Africa’s Rand Mutual's partnership will strengthen Africa’s social protection systems - Faleye

...As the Fund Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening the  ECS

MD/CE NSITF, Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye with RMA Chief Executive, Mr Bilal Adams

Managing Director/Chief Executive  of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barr. Oluwaseun Faleye, has said collaboration between the Fund and Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) of South Africa would strengthen Africa's social protection system.

Faleye stated this on Tuesday when he hosted a high-level delegation from RMA South Africa led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bilal Adam, at the NSITF headquarters in Abuja.

He said the meeting marked the start of a strategic partnership between two of Africa’s leading social insurers.

"Your visit marks the beginning of what we hope will evolve into a mutually beneficial and enduring relationship between our two organizations, and highlights our shared commitment to advancing workers' compensation, occupational safety and health, and social security administration on the African continent,’ the MD stated.

Barrister Faleye making a presentation 

Speaking on RMA's rich history, the NSITF boss said "We are particularly delighted to receive an institution of such remarkable pedigree. Established in 1894, Rand Mutual Assurance has built an enviable reputation over more than a century as one of Africa's foremost workers' compensation and social insurance institutions.

"Your evolution from a specialized compensation scheme for the mining industry into a modern, purpose-driven social insurer with a strong emphasis on prevention, rehabilitation, care and shared value creation is both admirable and inspiring," he added.

Mr Bilal Adams making his presentation 

"At NSITF, we recognize that the future of social protection lies in collaboration, innovation and the exchange of experiences. Consequently, we view this visit not merely as a courtesy engagement, but as the beginning of a strategic partnership capable of transforming workers' compensation and occupational injury insurance administration across our respective jurisdictions," he stated.

"Nigeria and South Africa are two of Africa's leading economies, and I believe that our institutions have a unique responsibility to provide thoughtful leadership and champion best practices that will strengthen social protection systems throughout the continent", he stressed.

According to Faleye, "Today's engagement provides us with a valuable opportunity to learn from one another, compare experiences, identify areas of mutual interest and explore innovative approaches to addressing the emerging challenges confronting the world of work.

"I am particularly encouraged by the prospect of collaboration in such areas as digital transformation, claims administration, occupational health and safety, rehabilitation and return-to-work programmes, capacity building, research and policy development.

"As institutions with a common purpose of protecting workers and supporting employers, we must continue to innovate and build resilient systems that place the dignity and wellbeing of workers at the centre of our operations.

"It is my expectation that the discussions over the next few days will culminate in practical outcomes and provide a framework for sustainable cooperation between our organizations,” he said. .

Reaffirming NSITF’s commitment to strengthening the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) as a critical social protection mechanism designed to guarantee compensation, rehabilitation and support for Nigerian workers who suffer workplace injuries, occupational diseases, disabilities or death arising from their employment, Faleye noted that the changing nature of work and emerging occupational risks require social insurance institutions to continuously improve their systems and adopt innovative approaches that place workers’ welfare at the centre of service delivery.

According to him, the ECS remains one of the most important social security interventions in Nigeria, providing medical care, rehabilitation services, compensation benefits and support to employees and their dependants in cases of work-related injury, disability or death.

He emphasized that collaboration, knowledge sharing and the exchange of professional experiences remain essential to strengthening social protection systems and ensuring that workers receive timely and adequate compensation.

The Managing Director stated that the Fund is particularly focused on advancing key areas that will further improve the implementation of the Scheme, including digital transformation, efficient claims administration, occupational safety and health, rehabilitation programmes, return-to-work initiatives, capacity development, research and policy enhancement.

“These areas are essential to building a modern and responsive compensation system that protects workers while supporting employers and contributing to national productivity,” he said, stressing that the NSITF is committed to building resilient systems that promote workplace safety, reduce occupational injuries and ensure that injured workers are rehabilitated and reintegrated into productive employment.

He noted that the Employees’ Compensation Scheme not only guarantees compensation for workers and their dependants but also provides employers with an organized and sustainable framework for managing workplace liabilities.

The Managing Director further stated that as the world of work continues to evolve, institutions responsible for social protection must continue to innovate and adopt best practices that improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence.

He expressed confidence that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be drafted for ratification and signing by the NSITF Management Board during this visit will open a new chapter of collaboration and strengthen the bonds of friendship between NSITF and Rand Mutual Assurance.

"Together, let us continue to build stronger institutions, safer workplaces and a more inclusive and resilient social protection system for the benefit of workers across Africa", he appealed.

As part of the deliberation both organizations will have engagement sessions where they are expected to share experiences that would enhance their proposed collaboration.

FOI: NASENI Faces Scrutiny Over Billions in Public Funds, Foreign Investment, and Project Implementation

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is facing an unprecedented transparency challenge following a sweeping Freedom of Information (FOI) request demanding full disclosure of billions of naira in public funds, foreign investments, strategic partnerships and project outcomes managed by the agency between 2023 and 2026.

The request seeks a comprehensive account of the administration of the NASENI Statutory Fund, including revenues derived from the statutory 0.25% levy on the profits of companies operating in Nigeria, appropriations from the Federal Government, foreign investments, development financing arrangements and the implementation status of flagship projects announced by the agency.

At the centre of the demand are questions concerning the deployment, management and measurable impact of some of NASENI's most publicized investment initiatives, including the reported $2 billion Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Programme (AMEDP), strategic partnerships with foreign institutions, and the agency's ambitious plans for local manufacturing and technology domestication.

The request further seeks disclosure of agreements entered into with international partners, including arrangements involving the China Development Bank and Chinese technical partners for solar cell manufacturing, as well as records relating to the agency's reported $425 million solar production expansion programme. Details of private sector co-investors, project financing structures, local content commitments and implementation benchmarks have also been demanded.

The request, addressed to Executive Vice Chairman Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, was not responded to within 7 days, culminating in the case of Aigbokhan President v Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu & 2 ORS (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2026. The suit is seeking the declaration court that failure of the agency to release information relating to rural electrification, irrigation infrastructure and technology deployment across the country is a breach of Freedom of Information Act of 2011.

According to the applicant- President Aigbokhan, Esq “This case signals a growing insistence on measurable accountability in public spending. NASENI occupies a strategic position in the management of public resources earmarked for industrial development, renewable energy, local manufacturing and technological advancement. Consequently, the agency's records are germane to industrial revolution of the country.”

The Federal High Court. On 3 June 2026, granted leave for judicial review and adjourned the matter to 22 September 2026 for further proceedings.

The proceedings are expected to test the scope of transparency obligations imposed on agencies entrusted with substantial public funds and international investment portfolios.

The case raises broader questions about public accountability in the management of strategic development projects and whether public institutions can continue to rely on broad policy announcements without providing verifiable evidence of implementation, expenditure and impact.

Recent developments within Nigeria's public sector have reinforced the growing expectation that agencies responsible for multi-billion-naira projects must be prepared to account for every allocation, investment commitment, memorandum of understanding and project outcome.

The conviction of the Minister of Power on charges of financial impropriety and project mismanagement sends a seismic shockwave through the energy sector, underscoring a critical era of zero tolerance for administrative opacity. As the judiciary begins to hold the highest levels of power accountable for the "black hole" of energy investments

The era in which public institutions could rely solely on press statements and ceremonial project launches is rapidly giving way to one in which documentary evidence, measurable results and statutory compliance are increasingly demanded by citizens, investors and the courts.

At stake is not merely compliance with an information request. The proceedings present a significant opportunity to determine whether one of Nigeria's most strategically positioned technology agencies can demonstrate, through verifiable records, that its ambitious investment announcements have translated into tangible outcomes for Nigerians.