A former senator and All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Abubakar Yusuf, has criticised Nigeria's 2026 appropriation bill of ₦68.32 trillion, calling it unrealistic and not grounded in planning. The budget was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, April 17, 2026. Yusuf, who represented Taraba Central in the Senate, made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television's Sunday Politics. He argued that budgeting must follow planning, a principle he believes is missing from the current process.

Yusuf questioned the source of funding, noting that Nigeria's borrowing is nearly equivalent to the total budget. He expressed disbelief at the scale of expenditure, stating that if he were president, he would not have signed the bill. According to him, much of the budget reflects wants rather than needs. He claimed that about 40 per cent of past budgets were splurged, a trend he says continues into the 2026 fiscal plan.

The approved budget allocates ₦15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure. Statutory transfers are set at ₦4.799 trillion, while debt servicing is projected at ₦15.8 trillion. Yusuf, a member of the APC, acknowledged the party's stewardship since President Muhammadu Buhari's administration but stressed that budgetary practices require urgent review.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

Senator Abubakar Yusuf calls the ₦68.32 trillion budget unrealistic and unplanned, yet remains a loyal APC member defending the same party that approved it. He claims 40 per cent of past budgets were splurged, raising questions about his own role in approving them during the eighth and ninth assemblies. If borrowing matches the budget size and debt service takes ₦15.8 trillion, ordinary Nigerians will bear the cost through higher prices and reduced public spending. His critique rings hollow without accountability for his party's long-standing control of the process.

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