The Peoples Democratic Party has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s 2026 budget proposal, branding it a “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings” and insisting it does not address the harsh economic realities confronting Nigerians.
President Tinubu on Friday laid before the National Assembly a ₦58.18 trillion Appropriation Bill for 2026, projecting gradual economic recovery and pledging tighter fiscal discipline.
However, the opposition party rejected the optimism, arguing that the figures fail to reflect the lived experiences of citizens grappling with rising prices, deepening poverty and persistent insecurity.
In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said Nigerians have endured “nothing but unmitigated hardship on the people, while the governing class relishes in affluence.” The party faulted the administration’s reliance on economic growth figures, noting that President Tinubu cited a 3.98% GDP growth rate as proof of stabilisation under his watch.
According to the PDP, growth figures alone do not translate into improved welfare. Ememobong referenced the 2025 World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief, which puts more than 30.9% of Nigerians below the international extreme poverty line, describing the situation as growth without shared prosperity. He argued that despite reported GDP expansion, poverty remains widespread, suggesting that whatever gains exist are not reaching most Nigerians.
The party further criticised the President for failing to clearly identify the sectors driving the reported growth or the segments of society benefiting from it. Ememobong contrasted the current figures with the 6.87% growth recorded in 2013 under the last PDP-led federal government, which he said was largely propelled by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade.
Beyond economic concerns, the PDP also called for greater accountability in the use of security allocations, urging transparent deployment of funds toward modern equipment, adequate ammunition, improved intelligence gathering and better welfare for security personnel battling increasingly sophisticated criminal groups across the country.
What you should know
The PDP’s reaction reflects growing political debate over Nigeria’s economic direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
While the Tinubu administration argues that reforms such as subsidy removal and fiscal tightening are stabilising the economy, opposition voices insist the policies have worsened living conditions for ordinary Nigerians. Rising inflation, unemployment and insecurity continue to dominate public discourse.
The party’s critique underscores a broader concern that macroeconomic indicators like GDP growth do not automatically improve household welfare unless supported by inclusive policies that reduce poverty, strengthen security and ensure transparent use of public funds.
