CSOs and NLC Lambast Tinubu Government Over Budget Implementation and Excessive Loans
Civil Society Organizations and the Nigeria Labour Congress have raised serious concerns over persistent constitutional and statutory breaches in the management of Nigeria's revenues and expenditures under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The CSOs, including ActionAid Nigeria, Center for Social Justice, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, Impact Bridge Africa, and Plan International, expressed alarm about the opacity, lack of transparency, disregard for timeliness, and poor citizen participation in the federal budgeting process and debt management.
Violations of Fiscal Responsibility Act Highlighted
During a joint press briefing in Abuja, the CSOs decried the late presentation of the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. They noted that Section 14 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act stipulates the MTEF should have been presented to the National Assembly in early July 2025, ensuring approval before the mid-year recess. The CSOs stated, "Contrary to Section 48 of the FRA, at the time of presenting the 2026 Executive Budget, there was no approved MTEF available to Nigerians, and the 2026 budget had not been passed as of April. This constitutes a gross violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which stipulates that the financial year runs from January 1 to December 31 each year."
Budget Increases and Poor Allocation Releases Criticized
The CSOs also frowned at the increase in the executive budget proposal from N58.4 trillion to N68.3 trillion, representing an increase of about N9 trillion. They highlighted that the N58.4 trillion proposal had a deficit of N25.2 trillion, raising concerns about where the new funding would come from. Additionally, they decried the poor release of allocations in the 2025 budget, citing an example where the Federal Ministry of Health received only N36 million out of N218 billion for its capital budget.
Excessive Borrowing and Debt Portfolio Concerns
Speaking on excessive borrowing, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, regretted that Nigeria's debt portfolio increased from N87.4 trillion in 2023 to N153.29 trillion as of December 31, 2025. He noted that the President has reportedly forwarded another loan request of about $6 billion. Rafsanjani questioned what the loans are being used for, stating that the government has withdrawn subsidies from basic infrastructures including health, fuel, electricity, transportation, education, and agriculture.
Rafsanjani said, "So why are we taking this huge amount of loans? We have taken over 60 trillion under the current administration. And there's no data showing that despite the saving we have made from the subsidy removal, there are no verifiable physical tangible data to show Nigerians' lives have been improved despite the huge saving from the subsidy." He called on the National Assembly and the President to prioritize progressive policies aimed at lifting Nigerians out of poverty and addressing deteriorating infrastructure.
NLC and ActionAid Voice Further Criticisms
The Senior Assistant Secretary General of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Eustace James, remarked that it is obvious kleptocrats have taken over the leadership of the Nigerian government, enslaving the people. He stated that policies alleged to be for development are instead enslaving Nigerians, with savings or gains being stolen, leading to widespread suffering.
ActionAid Country Director Andrew Mamedu wondered if the government was listening to the outcries of Nigerians, noting that for years, issues have been raised without government response. He highlighted budget deficits and constituency project injections, saying, "I know of a ministry that submitted a budget proposal of about N240 billion; however, when the budget returned to them, it was about N1 trillion. All these are happening, and it is Nigerians that are suffering the consequences."
