Says Nigerians continue to face rising poverty and hardship
By: Mandy Park
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 budget, as presented to the National Assembly under the theme “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity”, was Friday described as a “budget of consolidated renewed sufferings” for Nigerians.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticising the budget, said it masked the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the Party noted that despite the government’s claim of stabilising the economy, Nigerians continued to face rising poverty and hardship.
Said PDP, citing the 2025 World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief: “More than 30.9 per cent of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line”.
The Party also questioned the economic growth figure of 3.98 per cent highlighted by President Tinubu, arguing that it failed to translate into improved living standards.
The statement noted: “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 Party further contrasted this with the 6.87 per cent growth recorded in 2013 under the previous administration, driven largely by such non-oil sectors as agriculture and trade.
On security allocations in the 2026 budget, PDP welcomed the funds but stressed that allocation alone was insufficient.
According to PDP: “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 party also raised concerns over the delayed execution of the 2024 capital budget, extended into December 2025 while the 2025 budget is still in force.
The statement warned: “The operation of different budgets at the same time undermines fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability”.
The opposition Party called for greater transparency and accountability in government finances, saying these remained critical for public trust and effective governance under the Tinubu administration.
