On September 28, The National Association of Seadogs, Pentagun Deck (Washington DC Chapter) hosted a pivotal X Space discussion titled “High Cost of Governance, Who’s Paying?”, focusing on the financial burden of Nigeria’s National Assembly (NASS). This event built on themes from the Annual Feast of Barracuda Town Hall event which held earlier in June, where speakers Dele Farotimi and Melvin Foote critically examined governance challenges in Nigeria. Moderated by Zubby Agboifo, the summit featured Seun Onigbinde, co-founder and CEO of BudgIT, as the guest speaker. With 2,598 participants, the virtual summit explored the rising cost of governance and the critical role citizens play in driving change.
Seun Onigbinde, a prominent advocate for transparent governance, delivered a detailed analysis of Nigeria’s flawed budgetary processes. His work with BudgIT focuses on ensuring transparency in public spending and empowering citizens to hold the government accountable. During the summit, Onigbinde revealed how the National Assembly added ₦2.2 trillion to the national budget through questionable items across various ministries, departments, and agencies, often without proper oversight. He cited examples, such as ₦1.5 billion allocated for road repairs in Ikorodu, Lagos, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security—an expenditure entirely unrelated to the ministry’s mandate. This highlights the extent to which personal and political interests dominate the budgeting process in Nigeria, relegating the public good.
Onigbinde also addressed the systemic issues driving these corrupt practices, particularly the lavish lifestyles of public officeholders, who live extravagantly at the expense of ordinary citizens. Public office in Nigeria has become a lucrative career path, with little accountability due to weak institutional frameworks. As a result, the Nigerian people are left to bear the financial costs of mismanagement and corruption.
A key message of the summit was hinged on the need for citizens to play a more active role in altering the course of governance in Nigeria. Onigbinde called for increased public engagement, encouraging citizens to demand transparency and push for stronger institutional frameworks to ensure accountability in government spending.
The NAS Citizens’ Summit was an important platform for addressing these issues, offering insights into potential reforms in governance and budgeting. With over 2,500 participants actively involved, the event marked a significant step in mobilizing citizens to challenge the high cost of governance and demand better leadership in Nigeria.
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