LAGOS, Nigeria- BudgIT Foundation, a pan-African civic-tech organization advancing transparency and citizen participation, has announced the end of Abraham Varney’s five-year service as Country Lead for BudgIT Liberia, emphasizing that he no longer holds any role or representation within the institution or its international network.
The announcement, issued Wednesday, September 24, came as the organization sought to clarify what it described as unauthorized claims by Varney, who had suggested in recent weeks that BudgIT Liberia was no longer part of the Nigerian-based global body.
According to a statement released by Abiola Afolabi, International Growth Manager and member of the BudgIT Liberia Board of Trustees, the change aligns with broader organizational restructuring.
“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,” the statement read.
Afolabi added that Varney had served diligently for five years and was instrumental in laying the foundation of BudgIT’s presence in Liberia.
In July, Varney publicly declared that BudgIT Liberia had transitioned into what he described as “a fully autonomous institution,” claiming it was now a Liberian-owned and led civil society group independent of the Nigerian parent body.
He characterized the move as the beginning of “a new era of localized innovation, sovereign leadership, and commitment to Liberia’s development priorities.” Varney further asserted that the organization remained a legally registered local entity and had ceased all joint initiatives with BudgIT Foundation.
But the Foundation disputed those assertions, calling them unauthorized and inaccurate. It warned stakeholders to disregard such communications, stressing that they did not reflect the actual legal or institutional status of the network.
As part of its restructuring, BudgIT Liberia has reconstituted its Board of Trustees to ensure stronger oversight and adherence to global best practices. Oluseun Onigbinde, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, described the transition as an important moment of “stability, integrity, and renewed focus.”
He praised the contributions of former leadership while highlighting that the organization is now focused on a forward-looking agenda. “We are grateful to our regulatory and legal partners who supported this process and deeply appreciate the work of the former leadership,” Onigbinde said. “At the same time, we are committed to charting a course strengthened by our international capacity and dedicated to equipping citizens with the tools to demand accountability and good governance.”
The organization further disclosed that BudgIT Liberia has completed its registration with the Liberia Business Registry as an international nonprofit; a step officials say gives the group stronger legal standing and operational capacity.
Over the past five years, BudgIT Liberia has been credited with making significant contributions to governance and transparency in the country, including providing technical assistance for the creation of the Legislative Budget Office website and carrying out public campaigns to promote budget accountability.
The foundation noted that with its renewed governance structure, BudgIT Liberia is now better positioned to build on these achievements and expand its civic-tech initiatives.
The foundation also issued a strong warning against misrepresentation, stressing that all official communications are only conducted through its verified website, liberia.budgit.org, and recognized social media platforms. “Financial institutions, development partners, and the general public are strongly advised to disregard any correspondence or representations made by unauthorized individuals,” the statement cautioned.
It further emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against misrepresentation and revealed that legal and regulatory measures would be pursued, where necessary, to protect the integrity of the institution and its partners.
Despite the leadership shake-up, BudgIT underscored its continued mission to empower citizens and strengthen institutions across Liberia and West Africa. “Our mission remains resolute: to equip citizens with information that drives meaningful engagement, strengthens institutions, and accelerates development,” the foundation reaffirmed.
