Nigeria’s 2026 Appropriation Act has ignited a national firestorm after budget-tracking group Tracka, an initiative of BudgIT, revealed the Federal Government earmarked roughly N8.05 billion for church- and mosque-related projects, N1.91 billion across seven church initiatives and N6.14 billion across 52 mosque projects, spanning multiple ministries and agencies.
The disclosure lands against a grim fiscal backdrop: the budget carries a N31.45 trillion deficit, nearly 46 percent of the total N68.32 trillion spending plan, intensifying scrutiny of every naira allocated outside core public services.
Flagged line items include N1 billion for musical and cultural equipment for churches in Abia State’s Bende constituency, N1 billion for solar power to mosques in Zamfara North, and N850 million for church and mosque construction and religious-leader support in Gombe State.
Prominent voices have condemned the allocations. Activist Aisha Yesufu questioned the state’s entanglement with religion, arguing the funds belong in education. Broadcaster Rufai Oseni went further, alleging lawmakers embedded the projects for personal enrichment tied to their constituencies. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for full transparency on beneficiaries and implementing agencies, warning that faith “must never become a sanctuary for opaque budgeting,” and delivering a pointed line that religion is not a shield for unaccountable spending.
The Northern Christian Association added a fairness dimension, with chairman Joseph Hayab flagging the funding imbalance between denominations and calling for a transparent review, while stopping short of opposing religious project support outright.
Amid the backlash, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu’s office disputed the Bende figure, clarifying the net allocation was N780 million after tax deductions, intended for a youth anti-vice and re-orientation programme delivered through faith organisations. His office acknowledged a procurement-description error and said a corrigendum was underway with the budget office.
Social media reaction has been sharply critical, with users contrasting the religious allocations against neglected libraries, laboratories, tourist sites and research funding. As of publication, the Federal Government had issued no official response to the mounting criticism.
The controversy underscores deepening public frustration over budget transparency in Nigeria, and could pressure the National Assembly toward clearer disclosure standards for constituency-linked appropriations going forward.
