BBYDI Faults Kwara Govt, Assembly Over Non-Publication of 2026 Budget Proposal
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BBYDI Faults Kwara Govt, Assembly Over Non-Publication of 2026 Budget Proposal
By Kaosara Olayemi Oladimeji
The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has faulted the Kwara State Government and the Kwara State House of Assembly over the failure to make the proposed 2026 budget publicly accessible, describing the development as a major setback for transparency and participatory governance in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday in Ilorin, the state capital, the civil society organisation expressed concern that despite repeated assurances of openness by the current administration, residents of the state were yet to gain timely access to one of the most critical public policy documents.
BBYDI noted that while the proposed budget has eventually been released to the public since the inception of the present administration, the process has been marked by delays and reluctance.
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According to the group, over the past three years, civil society organisations and concerned citizens have had to write formal letters and send repeated requests before the budget proposal is made available.
The organisation described the practice as unacceptable in a democratic setting, stressing that access to budget documents should not depend on pressure from the public.
“A public budget is not a privilege to be granted upon request; it is a fundamental right of the people. The continued failure to proactively release the proposed budget raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” the statement read.
BBYDI also criticised the Kwara State House of Assembly for allowing the budget process to progress without ensuring that the proposal is placed in the public domain.
The group argued that lawmakers have a constitutional and moral responsibility to promote openness and safeguard the interests of citizens throughout the budgeting process.
According to the organisation, the absence of public access to the proposed budget before its passage undermines meaningful scrutiny and public input, thereby increasing the risk of waste, duplication of projects, and inefficient allocation of scarce public resources.
The group warned that a closed budget process weakens public trust and limits citizens’ ability to track government priorities and spending plans.
BBYDI therefore called on the Kwara State Government to immediately publish the proposed 2026 budget on all official platforms, including government websites and public information channels.
It also urged the House of Assembly to suspend further legislative consideration of the budget until the document is fully accessible to the public.
In addition, the organisation appealed to residents of the state, the media, and development partners to intensify demands for openness and accountability in the budgeting process, insisting that transparency is essential for effective governance and sustainable development.
BBYDI reaffirmed its commitment to sustained engagement and advocacy, pledging to continue pushing for transparency and fiscal responsibility until open budgeting becomes a consistent and irreversible practice in Kwara State.
