Civic-tech organization BudgIT has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for preparing to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly without first releasing a report on the implementation of the 2025 budget.
The organization raised the concern on Thursday in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, questioning the Federal Government’s silence on how the N54.99 trillion 2025 budget, which was signed into law in February 2025, has been executed.
“Mind you, there is still no budget implementation report for 2025. The 2026 budget is almost here, yet we don’t know how the 2025 budget performed? No report. No accountability,” BudgIT wrote.
The advocacy group’s criticism highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, with civil society organizations emphasizing the importance of budget performance reports in tracking government expenditure and assessing the effectiveness of fiscal policies.
Despite the absence of a publicly available report on the 2025 budget implementation, President Tinubu is scheduled to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill before a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, December 19, 2025.
The President’s intention was formally communicated in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. According to the correspondence, President Tinubu is expected to address lawmakers at 2:00 p.m., where he will present the nation’s fiscal plan for the upcoming year in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The annual budget presentation ceremony is a constitutional requirement that formally transmits the Federal Government’s fiscal proposals to the National Assembly for legislative scrutiny and approval before the proposals can be enacted into law.
BudgIT’s criticism underscores growing demands from civil society groups and transparency advocates for the government to provide regular updates on budget implementation, including details on revenue generation, expenditure patterns, capital project execution and overall fiscal performance.
Budget implementation reports typically provide crucial information on how public funds have been spent, which projects have been completed or are ongoing, challenges encountered during execution, and the overall impact of government spending on the economy and citizens’ welfare.
The absence of such reports makes it difficult for citizens, civil society organizations and oversight bodies to assess whether government spending aligns with stated priorities and whether taxpayers’ money is being utilized effectively and efficiently.
As President Tinubu prepares to unveil the 2026 budget proposals, questions remain about the performance of the current fiscal year’s budget and whether lessons learned from its implementation will inform the formulation of next year’s spending plans.
The National Assembly is expected to commence detailed scrutiny of the 2026 Appropriation Bill following the President’s presentation, with committees examining various aspects of the proposed budget before it returns to the floor for passage.
