…make case for public finance management
ActionAid Nigeria and six other civil society organisations (CSOs) have called on the Federal Government to begin preparations for the 2027 budget immediately, warning that delays could further weaken Nigeria’s public finance management system.
The call was made in Abuja during a press briefing on critical issues affecting Nigeria’s fiscal governance.
The organisations urged key government institutions, including the Budget Office of the Federation and the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, to commence work on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) without delay.
The groups involved include ActionAid Nigeria, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), CISLAC, the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development, BudgIT, Impact Bridge, and the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Celestine Odo, Head of Programmes and Policy at ActionAid Nigeria, pressed for swift passage and presidential assent to the 2026 federal budget, stressing that timely approval remains essential for effective implementation.
Odo stated that early budget preparation would enable the document to secure approval from the Federal Executive Council before the end of June and be transmitted to the National Assembly by early July 2026.
He cautioned against including projected oil windfalls in the 2026 revenue framework, recommending instead that such earnings be saved in the Excess Crude Account and only appropriated after a formal mid-year budget performance review.
The groups further emphasised the need for targeted spending to support vulnerable populations, particularly in transport, food security and energy. They also called on the executive to conclude the 2025 capital budget by June and shift focus to executing the 2026 budget.
In his remarks, Executive Director of the Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekwere, raised concerns about limited public participation in the budgeting process.
He said the current system falls short of global standards due to weak transparency, poor accountability, and disregard for timelines.
He criticised the deferment of capital budget implementation and any extension of the fiscal year, describing such actions as unconstitutional.
He further advocated the introduction of mandatory sanctions for breaches of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and related laws.
Onyekwere also demanded a comprehensive probe into the alleged mismanagement of funds in Nigeria’s refineries, citing reports of $2.9 billion spent over the past four years with little or no measurable outcomes. He urged authorities to prosecute anyone found culpable.