More than 56,000 government projects remain uncompleted across Nigeria, according to former Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze. He disclosed this during a high-level policy dialogue organised by the National Assembly's Joint Committees on National Planning and Economic Development. Akabueze attributed the backlog to systemic failures in translating plans into action, stating, "We are not short of ideas or frameworks. The real task is translating plans into funded, implemented, and completed projects that improve citizens' lives." He stressed that Nigeria's planning and budgeting systems often operate in silos, prioritising spending over measurable development outcomes.
Akabueze identified recurring revenue shortfalls, rising debt service obligations, procurement delays, and policy discontinuity as key factors undermining budget performance. He noted that changes in administration frequently lead to shifts in priorities, disrupting ongoing projects. To address these challenges, he proposed a shift to results-based budgeting, where spending is tied directly to verifiable outcomes. This model would link national goals to sector strategies, project selection, and performance indicators.
Reform measures include enacting an Organic Budget Law, improving project design and costing, digitising financial management systems, and strengthening revenue mobilisation. Akabueze acknowledged progress in the proposed 2026 budget, particularly its focus on capital expenditure, infrastructure, and security, but cautioned that oil-dependent revenue assumptions require careful management.
Ben Akabueze points to 56,000 uncompleted projects yet offers no explanation for why past administrations, including those he served, failed to deliver them. The same planning frameworks he now critiques were in place when many of these projects were initiated and abandoned. Nigerians named in project contracts or affected by stalled infrastructure have no assurance that new budget models will reach their communities. Words alone won't fix roads, schools, or hospitals left half-built.
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