The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 budget, describing it as a “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings” for Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the PDP said the budget, presented to the National Assembly and themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” does not reflect the realities faced by citizens since the inauguration of the Tinubu administration.
The statement was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
The opposition party said Nigerians have endured worsening economic conditions under the current administration, while members of the governing class continue to live in affluence.
According to the PDP, claims of economic stabilisation are inconsistent with the hardship experienced by ordinary Nigerians, including hunger and the rising cost of living.
Reacting to Tinubu’s claim of a 3.98 per cent Gross Domestic Product growth rate, the PDP argued that economic growth does not automatically translate into improved living standards.
Citing the 2025 World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief, the party said more than 30.9 per cent of Nigerians currently live below the international extreme poverty line.
“This shows growth without prosperity,” the PDP stated, adding that whatever gains exist are not reaching the majority of citizens.
The PDP faulted the President for failing to identify the sectors responsible for the reported growth or those benefitting from it.
The party compared the 3.98 per cent growth rate to the 6.87 per cent recorded in 2013 under the last PDP-led Federal Government, noting that the earlier growth was driven largely by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade.
It said the current administration’s celebration of the growth figure contrasts sharply with prevailing hunger and economic hardship across the country.
While acknowledging the allocation for security in the 2026 budget, the PDP said funding alone would not address insecurity.
The party demanded effective and transparent implementation to ensure that the allocations result in modern equipment, adequate ammunition, improved intelligence and better welfare for security personnel.
It also raised concerns that criminal non-state actors were allegedly better armed than Nigeria’s security forces.
The PDP expressed deep concern over Tinubu’s admission that the execution of the 2024 capital budget had been extended to December 2025 while the 2025 budget is still running.
According to the party, this confirms reports of the concurrent operation of multiple budgets.
“This cannot be described as best practice,” the statement said, adding that operating more than one budget at the same time undermines fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability.
The PDP said the development represents what it described as another negative precedent under the APC-led administration.
The party called for increased transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, saying these elements have been lacking under the Tinubu government.
“Financial accountability and transparency are critical to building public trust and ensuring effective public administration,” the statement concluded.