Nigeria's 2026 budget reveals a massive NIMC software spend as ten agencies prepare to gulp N24 billion for digital tools.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is ready to put its money where its mouth is regarding digital transformation. According to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, ten major government agencies, led by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), are set to spend a staggering N24 billion on software projects this year.
While over 115 agencies have software budgets, these "Top 10" are the heavy hitters. The spending spree covers everything from identity management and cybersecurity to education and immigration.
The data shows that NIMC is leading the pack. The commission has been allocated N7.58 billion specifically for software, the highest for any single agency.
This is closely followed by the Federal Ministry of Education, which plans to spend N7.55 billion to digitize school records and systems.
Other agencies on the high-spend list include:
- Mining Cadastral Office: N2.23 billion
- Geological Survey Agency: N1.32 billion
- National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NCCC): N1.26 billion
- NCDC (Health): N1.23 billion
- Federal Ministry of Finance: N1.09 billion
- Nigeria Immigration Service: N1.01 billion
Despite these billions, industry experts are raising eyebrows. There are growing concerns about whether this massive investment translates into better services for the average Nigerian.
Historically, IT procurement in government circles has been plagued by waste and a lack of transparency.
To check this, NITDA is tightening the screws. New guidelines now demand that any company handling government IT contracts must be licensed and use certified professionals.
The goal is simple: ensure that every naira spent on software actually improves how the government works.
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