Nigerians struggle to access and understand their national budget due to the Nigerian Budget Office's citizen portal being often offline and overly technical. This lack of transparency has led to the perception of the budget as a government secret, contributing to rampant corruption that has cost the economy over $550 billion since 1960, according to the World Justice Project. The 2023 Open Budget Survey revealed that Nigeria scored 19/100 in public participation and 31/100 in transparency, ranking 92 out of 125 countries. Historical roots of budgetary secrecy trace back to colonial practices, exacerbating poverty for 47% of the population. The government’s existing Open Treasury Portal is hindered by technical issues and incomplete data. To combat these issues, experts recommend establishing a comprehensive online budget monitoring system similar to those in South Korea and Georgia. Such a system could facilitate real-time tracking of government finances, enhance civic engagement, and ultimately reduce corruption through improved accountability.