The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 budget, calling it a “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings” for Nigerians.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said the budget, which was presented to the National Assembly under the theme “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” does not reflect the real struggles Nigerians have faced since Tinubu took office.
The opposition party pointed out that while ordinary Nigerians are suffering from worsening economic conditions, those in government continue to enjoy wealth and comfort. The PDP argued that claims of economic stability do not match the reality of hunger and rising living costs experienced by many citizens.
Responding to Tinubu’s claim of a 3.98 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, the PDP said economic growth does not always mean better living standards. They cited the 2025 World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief, which shows that over 30.9 percent of Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line. “This shows growth without prosperity,” the PDP said, adding that the benefits of growth are not reaching most people.
The PDP also criticized the President for not explaining which sectors are driving the growth or who is benefiting from it. They compared the current 3.98 percent growth rate to the 6.87 percent recorded in 2013 under the last PDP-led government, noting that the earlier growth was mainly due to non-oil sectors like agriculture and trade.
The party said celebrating the current growth rate is out of touch with the widespread hunger and economic difficulties across Nigeria.
While the PDP acknowledged the security funding in the 2026 budget, they said money alone will not solve the country’s insecurity problems. They called for transparent and effective use of funds to provide modern equipment, enough ammunition, better intelligence, and improved welfare for security forces. The PDP also expressed worry that criminals are sometimes better armed than Nigeria’s security personnel.
The PDP expressed serious concern over President Tinubu’s admission that the 2024 capital budget execution has been extended to December 2025, even as the 2025 budget is still in effect. The party said this confirms reports that multiple budgets are running at the same time, which they called “not best practice.” They warned that operating more than one budget simultaneously harms fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability.
The PDP described this as another bad example set by the APC-led government and called for more transparency and accountability in managing public funds. They stressed that these qualities are essential for building public trust and ensuring good governance, but have been missing under the current administration.
The statement ended by emphasizing the need for financial accountability and transparency to improve public administration and trust.
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