Former vice president Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has belittled the 2025 Appropriation Bill which President Bola Tinubu last week presented to the National Assembly for consideration and approval. The president had assured the people o the country economic growth albeit hyperinflation.
On Sunday, the ex vice president, who contested against Tinubu in 2023 wrote in his personal Facebook page to assess the bill.
The president has said that a sum of 13 trillion naira would be borrowed to finance the budget. Atiku said that borrowing has become a pattern of the government under the All Progressives Congress saying “wherein budget deficits have been consistently presented, accompanied by an increasing reliance on external borrowing.”
Atiku, who has not distanced himself from the 2027 race for the presidency, highlighted some issues with the budget. He argued that the budget was formed on a weak foundation citing underperformance in capital spending.
The PDP leader also talked about disproportionate debt servicing, unsustainable government expenditure, insufficient capital investment and regressive taxation and economic strain. He said all these factors made the budget incompetent.
The former vice president added, “In conclusion, the 2025 budget lacks the structural reforms and fiscal discipline required to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges. To enhance the budget’s credibility, the administration must prioritize the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations, tackle contract inflation, and focus on long-term fiscal sustainability rather than perpetuating unsustainable borrowing and recurrent spending patterns. A shift towards a more disciplined and growth-oriented fiscal policy is essential for the nation’s economic recovery.”
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