Why should 10 government agencies spend N24 billion on ‘software’ in just one year, and what exactly will Nigerians get in return?

Development Diaries reports that software developers have raised concerns about government agencies’ continued reliance on foreign software, warning that it poses security risks while also leading to wasteful spending and the loss of money out of the country.

According to an analysis by The Guardian, the Federal Government’s 2026 Appropriation Bill states that about 115 MDAs plan to procure software this year, and 10 of these MDAs plan to spend about N24 billion on software-related projects in the year.

Amid complaints by software experts of continuous patronage of foreign software by ministries, there are even concerns around yearly wastage and uncompleted jobs.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) recently expressed worry that billions of naira are being pushed by MDAs through IT projects because they are too technical to be scrutinised by the National Assembly during the budget defence.

This growing concern is not because technology is bad, but because ‘software’ has become one of the most abused budget labels in Nigeria.

Too often, it is used to mask spending that citizens cannot see, verify, or question, hidden behind technical language that sounds impressive but explains very little.

When 10 government agencies plan to spend about N24 billion on ‘software’ in one year, the real issue is not technology. It is trust.

Nigerians have seen ‘software’, ‘digitalisation’, and ‘ICT solutions’ used too often as vague budget words that sound impressive but explain very little.

These items are hard for citizens to see, touch, or verify, and they are usually hidden behind technical language that shuts out public questioning. So the simple question remains: what exactly will N24 billion buy for Nigerians?

This is not an argument against digital transformation. Nigeria needs better technology in identity management, education, health, security, and finance.

But digital progress must come with clear results. Over the years, billions have been spent on systems that either do not work, do not talk to each other, or quietly disappear after launch.

When digital spending keeps rising but services remain slow and manual, citizens are right to be suspicious.

The deeper problem is how uncoordinated government digital spending has become. Different MDAs budget for similar software that does the same job.

New platforms replace last year’s ‘new platforms’. Licences are paid for and never renewed or used. Systems are built in isolation and never integrated. What this creates is a graveyard of portals, ghost software, and consultants paid for results no one can find or use.

In an economy under serious strain, N24 billion is not small money. That amount could build classrooms, upgrade primary healthcare centres, support teachers, or fund shared data systems that actually work across government.

Instead, Nigerians are often left with screenshots, press statements, and login pages that lead nowhere. Digital spending without visible service delivery is not reform; it is waste.

This is why Nigerians must start asking hard questions. How many of these software budgets are for renewing old systems, not building new ones?

Which MDAs are buying overlapping tools instead of sharing platforms? How many of these systems are live, accessible, and in daily use?

Why does digital spending increase every year while queues, paperwork, and delays remain the same? If these questions cannot be answered in plain language, the spending fails the public interest test.

Nigerians must call for clear action. Every MDA must publish a full list of the software it uses, who supplied it, how much it cost, and whether it is working.

The federal government must stop duplicated digital spending and force MDAs to share platforms. The Auditor-General must audit outcomes, not just documents.

The Budget Office of the Federation and National Assembly must stop approving vague ‘software’ labels without details, we as citizens must be able to see and test any digital platform funded with public money.

Nigeria does not need more software. It needs working systems, shared tools, and honest accounting.

Photo source: ICSI