House of Representatives Intensely Questions Tinubu's Economic Team Over 2025 Budget Failures
A highly charged and tense session erupted at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, February 25, as federal lawmakers conducted a rigorous interrogation of key members of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic management team. The focus of the scrutiny centered on alleged severe failures in the implementation of the 2025 national budget and the consequential implications for the newly proposed 2026 fiscal estimates. The atmosphere was electric with accountability demands as legislators sought clear explanations for the stalled economic progress.
Ministers Face Scrutiny Over Zero Capital Releases
The House Committee on Appropriation, under the leadership of Chairman Hon. Abubakar Bichi, summoned and thoroughly questioned the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and the Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zach Adedeji. Lawmakers expressed profound concern and frustration over what they described as zero releases for capital components of the 2025 budget. This alarming situation has effectively paralyzed critical projects and severely weakened economic activities across numerous ministries, departments, and agencies nationwide.
Chairman Bichi emphasized that the meeting was strategically convened to interrogate the perplexing absence of capital funding, despite documented improvements in government revenue collections. He stated, "This engagement is crucial for us to study, consider, and approve the upcoming requests. We decided to engage the economic team of the President to discuss the previous performance of the 2025 budget, as well as the proposed 2026 estimates." The committee highlighted a glaring contradiction where revenue performance exceeded targets, yet capital expenditure remained completely frozen.
Revenue Surplus Clashes With Fiscal Stagnation
Bichi provided detailed figures, noting that government earnings in 2025 surpassed projections significantly, achieving approximately ₦28 trillion against a target of ₦25 trillion. He stressed the urgent need for clarity and transparency from revenue authorities, adding, "We need to have more information from you so that Nigerians who are watching will be properly informed." Legislators also pointedly questioned why capital projects recorded absolutely no progress, even after the National Assembly had approved an executive request for ₦1.15 trillion specifically designated to support parts of the 2025 capital budget.
In response, Finance Minister Wale Edun defended the administration's fiscal decisions, attributing the situation to comprehensive reforms aimed at terminating what he described as unsustainable fiscal practices. Edun explained, "We stopped the unsustainable methodology of printing money, whether to pay debt service, or contractors, or meet other obligations of government." He further elaborated that significant adjustments to Nigeria's debt profile and exchange rate regime had profoundly impacted fiscal operations, with some liabilities previously excluded now being formally recognized.
Ministers Shift Blame and Report Revenue Success
Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu shifted focus towards budget restructuring, explaining that discussions with both chambers of the National Assembly allowed for a rollover of capital expenditure. He detailed that about 70 percent of the 2025 capital allocation was moved into the 2026 budget proposal currently under legislative review. Bagudu also distanced his ministry from implementation delays, stating, "The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, including the Budget Office, relies on the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Ministry of Finance for data about budget implementation."
NRS Chairman Zach Adedeji defended his agency's performance, reporting that revenue targets were not only met but exceeded in 2025. According to his testimony, the service generated ₦28.23 trillion against a target of ₦25.2 trillion for the year, showcasing a notable surplus in collections.
Tempers Flare and Session Adjourned Amid Chaos
The explanations provided by the ministers failed to placate the increasingly frustrated lawmakers, leading to a rowdy and chaotic session. Several members openly expressed their anger, with some shouting demands for the resignation of the Finance Minister, the Budget Minister, and the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, accusing them of gross incompetence. To restore order, Chairman Bichi appealed for calm and proposed an adjournment of the sitting pending the appearance of the Minister of State for Finance. The committee subsequently adjourned proceedings until Thursday, February 26, at 1 PM.
Broader Impact on Ministries and Contractors Revealed
Lawmakers recalled earlier disclosures by the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, who revealed that his ministry received only ₦38 million out of the ₦286 billion allocated in the 2025 budget. Several other ministers and agency heads have similarly complained of zero capital releases, a situation legislators directly blamed for the worsening state of the national economy. Outside the legislative chambers, the Association of Indigenous Contractors in Nigeria had previously staged protests at the Ministry of Finance, demanding payment of over ₦4 trillion for contracts executed under the 2024 budget, highlighting the cascading effects of the budget implementation failures.
