The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 budget proposal, describing it as a “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings” rather than one that delivers shared prosperity for Nigerians.
President Tinubu on Wednesday presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.” He cited signs of economic stabilisation, including a reported 3.98 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate.
However, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP argued that the figures do not reflect the lived realities of Nigerians, who it said have endured worsening economic hardship since the current administration took office.
According to the opposition party, economic growth without corresponding improvements in living standards amounts to “growth without prosperity.”
The PDP referenced the 2025 World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief, which estimates that more than 30.9 per cent of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line, as evidence that economic gains are not reaching the majority of citizens.
“The President cited a 3.98 per cent growth rate without clearly stating the sectors driving this growth or identifying who actually benefits from it,” the statement said.
The party compared the figure unfavourably with the 6.87 percent growth recorded in 2013 under the previous PDP-led administration, noting that earlier growth was driven largely by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade.
The PDP also raised concerns about rising hunger, the high cost of living, and other indicators of economic distress, which it said contradict official claims of stabilisation.
On security, the party acknowledged the allocation provided in the 2026 budget but warned that funding alone would not solve Nigeria’s security challenges.
It called for transparent and effective implementation to ensure that resources translate into improved equipment, intelligence, and welfare for security personnel, especially amid allegations that armed non-state actors possess superior weaponry.
The opposition party further criticised what it described as fiscal mismanagement, pointing to the President’s admission that the execution of the 2024 capital budget had been extended to December 2025 while the 2025 budget remains in operation.
According to the PDP, the concurrent operation of multiple budgets undermines fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability.
“This cannot be regarded as best practice, as every budget has a defined period of operation,” the statement said, describing the situation as an unprecedented negative development under the current administration.
The PDP concluded by calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, stressing that these principles are essential for building public trust and ensuring effective governance.
