In the 2025 national budget proposal, federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are set to allocate a staggering N14.3 billion for the purchase of computers. According to an analysis of the budget by Daily Trust, 20 of these agencies will collectively spend N14,261,940,152 on new computers.
President Bola Tinubu presented the N49.7 trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 18. The budget includes the line item “Purchase of Computers,” which appears a total of 212 times, with over 100 MDAs proposing to buy new computers. This has sparked criticism from analysts and civil society groups, who argue that the annual purchase of computers and other “non-essential” items has become wasteful and excessive. They have called on lawmakers to carefully scrutinize the budget before approval.
Among the highest spenders is the Ministry of Education, which has been allocated N3.88 billion for computer purchases, followed by the National Cybercrime Coordination Centre with N2.7 billion. Other agencies with notable allocations include the defunct Ministry of Sports Development, which received N1.1 billion, and the newly formed Ministry of Livestock Development, which has been earmarked N263.4 million for computers.
Additionally, the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy will spend N525.2 million, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development N75 million, and the Ministry of Transport N70 million. Agencies like NAFDAC, PTAD, NIMET, and others also have budgeted amounts for computer procurement.
The concern over these recurrent allocations was echoed in 2024 as well, with the same line item appearing 144 times in last year’s budget. Lawmakers like Bello Nasir El-Rufai have voiced frustration over the repetitive nature of these allocations, calling for a shift away from purchasing non-essential items such as computers and furniture. He argued that these expenses should be re-evaluated, particularly when the government asks citizens to tighten their belts.
Comrade Yusuf Bello, a labour leader, also expressed his concerns about the lack of accountability, urging that items which do not require annual replacement should not continue to be included in the budget. He emphasized the need for transparency and responsibility in budget execution.
Critics, such as Comrade Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, have described these purchases as wasteful, pointing out that the government regularly buys office equipment despite existing resources still in use. Adeniran suggested that the government should focus on maintaining or upgrading existing equipment rather than constantly purchasing new ones.
Ibrahim Zikirullahi of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education questioned the necessity of such expenditures, asking why past computer purchases had not been fully utilized or maintained. He suggested that the funds spent over the years could have been better used to establish local computer manufacturing industries, which could also create jobs.
Eze Onyekpere, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, echoed these concerns, calling for the removal of such frivolous items from the budget to ensure more meaningful investments in the country’s development.
