Tinubu’s 2026 Budget Is ‘Consolidated Renewed Sufferings’

By Adesina Soyooye

President Bola Tinubu’s 2026 Budget has been described by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a “budget of consolidated renewed sufferings” for Nigerians.

The main opposition party dismissed the budget, presented to the National Assembly which  theme was “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” as masked in the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens.

In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said that despite the Government’s claim that it’s stabilising the economy, Nigerians continue to face rising poverty and hardship.

Said the PDP: “More than 30.9 per cent of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line.”

The PDP cited the 2025 World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief. It also

questioned the economic growth figure of 3.98 per cent  highlighted by President Tinubu, and  reasoned that it failed to translate into improved living standards.

“While the President celebrates a 3.98 per cent growth rate, the reality for Nigerians is excruciating hunger, a high cost of living, and other indices of economic hardship,” the statement said.

The party also compared this with the 6.87 per cent growth recorded in 2013 under the previous administration, driven largely by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade.

On security allocations in the 2026 budget, the PDP was comfortable with the funds allocated but stressed that allocation alone does not do the job.

“We demand effective and transparent execution to ensure that security funding translates into modern equipment, adequate ammunition, improved intelligence, and better welfare for security personnel,” the PDP said.

It, also, queried the delayed execution of the 2024 capital budget, extended into December 2025 while the 2025 budget is still in force.

“The operation of different budgets at the same time undermines fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability,” the statement noted.

The PDP called for transparency and accountability in government finances, and said they remain critical for public trust and effective governance under the Tinubu administration.