Major opposition parties in Nigeria have expressed strong disapproval of the Federal Government’s proposed expenditure of N14.3 billion for new computers across 20 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as outlined in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
This backlash comes just two weeks after President Bola Tinubu presented a N49.7 trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.
An analysis of the budget reveals that the MDAs allocated N14,261,940,152 for computer purchases, with the Ministry of Education seeking N3.9 billion and the defunct Ministry of Sports Development requesting N1.1 billion for similar acquisitions. Other agencies, such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, proposed N202 million, while the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation asked for N797 million.
These allocations, under the “Purchase of Computers” section, have drawn sharp criticism, with opposition parties urging the National Assembly to reject the proposal.
The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, criticised the expenditure, describing it as a ploy to enrich select individuals in government.
“A computer can last for at least five years; why buy them every year? Are they used by human beings or animals? Who takes the ones they are phasing out after one year? We are not even sure whether there are mechanisms in place to verify whether these electronic gadgets are bought,” Ifoh said.
He further questioned the recurrent requests for new vehicles by MDAs, arguing for a moratorium on such expenses.
“There has to be a total moratorium on some of these unnecessary demands, including cars and computers. Put those resources into productive investment. Nigeria’s corruption is endemic, and it takes a leadership that knows what it is doing to stop it. You can’t just continue to approve computers every year. It simply shows they are conduits to rip the nation of taxpayers’ money.”
The New Nigeria People’s Party also criticised the proposal, with its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, questioning the sincerity of the Tinubu administration’s reforms.
“It is not just about revenue generation. Is it only the computer budget we spotted? How about the vehicles and renovations? Is it that they change cars and computers every year, or they just can’t maintain them for four years before calling for change?” Johnson queried.
He accused the government of prioritising revenue generation over the welfare of Nigerians, adding, “You don’t kill your people because you want to generate revenue. Again, is the revenue you are generating for the benefit of the people or the lifestyle of people in governance?”
Johnson pledged that the opposition would continue to hold the government accountable and scrutinise its spending.
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor, also denounced the allocation, calling it a sign of rampant corruption.
“How do you budget N14.3bn again for new computers? Are they using them to see heaven or the future?” he questioned.
Opposition parties remain resolute in their demand for greater fiscal discipline, urging the government to redirect resources to initiatives that would benefit ordinary Nigerians rather than fund questionable expenditures.
