A fresh controversy has erupted over Nigeria’s 2026 budget after the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called for an investigation into a controversial ₦140 million allocation linked to the construction and rehabilitation of emir palaces and mosques in Kaduna State.

The rights group described the expenditure as an example of misplaced priorities, arguing that public funds associated with livestock development should be directed toward addressing the numerous challenges facing farmers and livestock producers rather than projects with no apparent connection to agriculture or food production.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the allocation raises fundamental questions about accountability, budget discipline and the growing practice of inserting projects into government budgets that appear unrelated to the mandates of the institutions expected to execute them.

The group said Nigeria’s livestock sector is currently battling multiple challenges, including insecurity, inadequate veterinary services, poor infrastructure, limited access to financing and weak market opportunities, all of which require urgent government intervention.

According to HURIWA, resources should instead be channelled toward modern ranching systems, livestock breeding programmes, dairy development, veterinary healthcare, agricultural technology and other initiatives capable of boosting productivity, creating jobs and strengthening food security.

“The livestock sector remains one of the most important components of Nigeria’s agricultural economy. Every available resource should be directed toward interventions that can increase production, improve livelihoods and support national food security,” the group said.

HURIWA argued that assigning funds for religious and traditional structures through agencies associated with livestock development sends the wrong signal at a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with rising food prices and economic hardship.

The organisation also questioned the process through which the allocation was approved and demanded full disclosure of all documents relating to the project.

It called on the relevant authorities to make public the justification for the expenditure, details of the proposed beneficiaries, procurement procedures, implementation plans, contractors involved and the officials responsible for initiating and approving the allocation.

The group further urged the National Assembly, the Budget Office of the Federation, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and anti-corruption agencies to scrutinise the expenditure and determine whether it complies with Nigeria’s procurement and public finance regulations.

According to HURIWA, approval of a budget item alone does not automatically make the expenditure necessary, appropriate or beneficial to citizens.

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The association said the controversy reflects a wider problem within Nigeria’s budgeting system, where projects are frequently linked to ministries and agencies whose statutory responsibilities have little connection to the proposed expenditure.

It warned that such practices could weaken public confidence in government spending and undermine the effectiveness of specialised ministries established to drive development in critical sectors.

HURIWA also used the opportunity to criticise what it described as questionable constituency-related expenditures in other parts of the country, insisting that public funds must be managed in a manner that reflects constitutional principles, transparency and equal treatment of all citizens.

The organisation maintained that Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions require government at all levels to focus on projects that directly improve the welfare of citizens and stimulate economic growth.

It identified food insecurity, unemployment, poverty, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure and declining human capital development as some of the urgent challenges deserving greater attention from policymakers.

The group subsequently called on President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive review of controversial allocations across ministries, departments and agencies to ensure that public resources are devoted to projects with measurable developmental impact.

HURIWA warned that failure to provide clear explanations regarding the allocation could further deepen public concerns about transparency and priorities in the management of government finances.

The controversy comes amid an ongoing debate over the alignment of projects captured in federal budgets with the mandates of government institutions, a concern that has increasingly attracted scrutiny from civil society organisations and budget accountability advocates. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development had earlier denied reports that the ₦140 million allocation formed part of its headquarters budget, stating that the controversial items were contained in the budget of the Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, a self-accounting institution under its supervision.

Despite that clarification, HURIWA insists that questions surrounding the allocation must be fully addressed in the interest of transparency, accountability and public trust.