Nigeria’s budgeting system has, over the years, come under intense scrutiny due to its inability to deliver the desired level of development and public service. A budget should serve as a practical roadmap for national development, not merely an annual ritual that raises expectations only to leave them unmet. Equally disturbing are the recurring allegations and counter allegations of budget padding and the insertion of strange projects into the national budget. Indeed, many items contained in the national budget remain nothing more than a mirage. Lawmakers should also make their own budget realistic and resist the inclusion of unnecessary projects.