Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola, has clarified misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s budgeting process, insisting that no kobo is spent from the national treasury without the approval of the National Assembly, and that constituency projects should not be mistaken for budget padding.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Retreat of the Remo Traditional Council held in Sagamu over the weekend, Senator Adeola explained that the legislature’s role in shaping Nigeria’s budget is often misrepresented by detractors who deliberately confuse the public with terms like “padding,” “insertions,” and “constituency projects.”
“There is a lot of misinformation and outright falsehood out there on the issue of the budget in Nigeria. The legislature is wrongly portrayed as the villain in the budgeting process. Accusations like budget padding and insertions are used to create confusion and cast aspersions on lawmakers,” Adeola said.
He noted that the National Assembly derives its power over the national budget from Sections 80 to 84 of the 1999 Constitution, which clearly state that no public funds can be spent without legislative approval.
“The legislature has a duty to ensure that no part of Nigeria is neglected. The needs of each constituency are diverse. That is why every legislator is expected to make inputs based on their constituents’ needs for inclusion in the national budget. This is not padding or insertion, but using legislative power to serve the people,” he explained.
Senator Adeola stressed that constituency projects are legitimate interventions meant to address developmental gaps, especially in areas that may not attract direct federal presence. According to him, lawmakers do not execute the projects themselves, as funds are allocated to relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for implementation.
He stated, “No single kobo is given to any legislator for constituency projects. The projects are domiciled within MDAs, and they handle procurement and execution. Calling these interventions padding is misleading and undermines the essence of democracy.”
Adeola, who briefly left the South West Zonal Constitution Amendment Public Hearing to address the traditional rulers, also promised to support efforts to grant constitutional recognition to royal fathers, acknowledging their roles in promoting peace, security, and development.
In his remarks, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, commended Senator Adeola for ongoing development projects in the area, including the installation of solar streetlights across Remo towns. He urged more support for Remoland, particularly the establishment of a federal educational institution and fair treatment in the event of Ijebu State creation.
The retreat was organized to deepen knowledge on governance issues and attract greater development to Remoland.
