A coalition of civil society organisations said Nigeria’s rising government spending has failed to improve living conditions, warning that poverty, inequality and weak public services continue to worsen despite record budgets.
In a joint statement, groups including Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Yiaga Africa, BudgIT Foundation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Amnesty International Nigeria and Centre for Democracy and Development said federal budgets exceeding ₦100 trillion over the past two years have not translated into tangible improvements for citizens.
The groups said economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira, have boosted government revenues but have also increased the cost of living, leaving many Nigerians worse off. They described the situation as a “dangerous disconnect” between public spending and real-life outcomes and warned of worsening insecurity, corruption and economic hardship.
They called for greater transparency in public spending, improved service delivery and stronger institutions, including reforms to the judiciary and electoral system.
Separately, former presidential candidate Peter Obi questioned the federal government’s approval of ₦3.3 trillion to settle debts in the power sector, saying repeated interventions have failed to improve electricity supply.
In a statement, Obi said similar approvals in recent years, including ₦3.3 trillion in May 2024 and a ₦4 trillion bond in July 2024, have yielded little measurable impact. He argued that the problem lies in structural and governance issues rather than funding.
Obi also raised concerns about transparency, asking how the debts were accumulated and why previous spending has not delivered results. He noted that government agencies are among major debtors in the power value chain.
Meanwhile, civil society groups including ActionAid Nigeria and Centre for Social Justice criticised the federal budgeting process, citing delays, lack of transparency and limited public participation.
They noted that the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2026–2028 was not presented on time, contrary to provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and called for reforms to improve fiscal discipline and accountability.
