Budgets information in Nigeria are often celebrated at the beginning of every budgetary year or at the time of approval and announcement of the budgets by the Federal and various States governments.

The media focus extensively on the amount that has been budgeted not only in its total figure but also the sectoral allocations. In some instances, there are analyses of the breakdowns and what import for the polity. Budgetary issues in recent years have, based on passing observations, enjoyed more media attention in the period of its debate at the parliament, especially at the federal level. The post-budgetary attentions occur only in situations of controversy, especially between the Executive and the National Assembly over budget implementations and relocation of funds. Not much is done in oversighting/tracking the implementation of the actual budget.

In like manner, the media attention, except for few generalised, non-specific comments, are hardly focused on issues in corruption. The treatment of corruption up till date has never been issue-based and is often driven by events dictated by the government’s actions. Even in situations where the reports are based on government actions, there is the tendency to focus on personalities, rather than the issues involved.

The problems as identified above can be itemised as follows:

• That the dominant forms of engagement of the media scarcely transcend news reporting and ceremonial activities
• That news reporting of budgetary figures and sectoral allocations do not constitute any form of critical reporting or monitoring of budget processes to determine transparency and accountability in governance.
• Weak post-budgetary engagements  that focus on controversial issues
• Avoidance of issues of corruption/ or uncritical reporting of  corruption/corrupt practices
•  The predominance of activities that focus on information from government rather that initiatives that represent/reflect  alternative sources

• little or no research capacity
• inadequate data and information/ absence of baseline data
• specialised skills in  issues of economic governance
• weak nexus between the research community/policy scholars and the media
• Newness of the anti-corruption crusade.