Published: September 26, 2025
Monrovia – BudgIT Foundation, a pan-African civic-tech group promoting fiscal transparency and citizen engagement, has clarified that Abraham Varney’s five-year tenure as Country Lead for BudgIT Liberia has officially ended, and that he no longer represents the institution or its global network.
The clarification, issued on Wednesday, September 24, follows public statements from Varney suggesting that BudgIT Liberia had severed ties with the Nigeria-based parent organization and declared itself fully autonomous.
Foundation Confirms Leadership Transition “Aligning with these restructurings, BudgIT Foundation confirms that Mr. Abraham Varney has concluded his tenure as Country Lead for BudgIT Liberia and no longer holds any role or representation within BudgIT Liberia or the broader BudgIT network,” said Abiola Afolabi, International Growth Manager and a member of the BudgIT Liberia Board of Trustees.
The foundation credited Varney for his contributions over the past five years, noting that he helped lay the foundation for BudgIT’s activities in Liberia. Varney’s Autonomy Claims Disputed In July, Varney publicly announced that BudgIT Liberia had declared “full institutional autonomy” as a Liberian-owned and led civil society organization. He described the development as “a new era of localized innovation, sovereign leadership, and commitment to Liberia’s development priorities.”
Varney said the organization had stopped all co-branded initiatives with the Nigerian headquarters and was now operating as a fully independent entity under Liberian law. BudgIT Foundation rejected that claim, calling it unauthorized and factually incorrect. “These communications do not reflect the legal or institutional status of the network,” the foundation said, warning stakeholders to disregard such statements.
Strengthening Governance and Legal Status
The foundation said BudgIT Liberia has reconstituted its Board of Trustees to guide its next phase of programming. Oluseun Onigbinde, co-founder and chair of the board, said the restructuring was meant to “reflect stability, integrity, and renewed focus.” “We are grateful to our regulatory and legal partners who supported this process and deeply appreciate the work of the former leadership,” Onigbinde said, adding, “At the same time, we are focused on charting a forward-looking course—rooted in integrity, strengthened by our international capacity, and committed to empowering citizens with the tools they need to demand accountability and better governance.”
BudgIT also announced that its Liberia chapter is now officially registered with the Liberia Business Registry as an international nonprofit, ensuring what it described as a stronger legal and operational footing.
Track Record in Liberia
Since its establishment, BudgIT Liberia has supported key civic-transparency initiatives, including technical assistance for the Legislative Budget Office website and national campaigns on budget accountability. “With the renewed governance structure, BudgIT Liberia is positioned to consolidate these gains and scale new initiatives that foster good governance and citizen empowerment,” the foundation said.
Warning Against Misrepresentation
BudgIT cautioned that only communications issued through its official website, liberia.budgit.org, and verified social media accounts should be considered legitimate. “Financial institutions, development partners, and the general public are strongly advised to disregard any correspondence or representations made by unauthorized individuals,” the statement said, adding that the foundation is prepared to pursue legal action to protect its integrity, workforce, and partners.
Commitment to Transparency
Despite the leadership shake-up, the foundation reaffirmed its broader mission across Liberia and West Africa. “Our mission remains resolute: to equip citizens with information that drives meaningful engagement, strengthens institutions, and accelerates development,” BudgIT said.
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