₦airaland Forum

PRESS RELEASE

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

5 July 2026

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄

The Federal Government has noted recent public commentary alleging that approximately two percent of GDP amounting to over ₦8 trillion was spent outside the approved budget based on references to the IMF Representative in Nigeria and the Fund's 2026 Article IV Consultation Report. These claims are incorrect and risk misleading the public regarding the government's financial management.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government does not operate a "shadow budget" or expend public funds outside the constitutional and statutory framework established for public finance.

Under Sections 80 - 83 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), public funds may only be withdrawn and expended in accordance with the Constitution and laws enacted by the National Assembly. Accordingly, Federal Government expenditure is incurred pursuant to duly enacted Appropriation Acts, Supplementary Appropriation Acts, and other statutory authorities enacted by the National Assembly. In addition, multi-year capital projects which necessarily span multiple budgets are implemented in accordance with extant laws and approved provisions for capital rollovers where applicable. These are recognised features of public financial management and should not be misconstrued as expenditures outside the budget.

It is inaccurate to suggest that trillions of naira have been secretly spent outside legislative approval. Such allegations should have identified the specific projects purportedly executed without appropriation or legal authority and present credible evidence in support of the claim. To be meaningful, assertions of this magnitude must be supported by verifiable facts rather than conjecture.

For the purpose of public education, it is important to distinguish between appropriation, expenditure authorisation, financing, and fiscal reporting.

Nigeria's public finance framework contains several statutory transfers, first-line charges and intervention mechanisms established by Acts of the National Assembly. These include, among others:

- Statutory allocations and contributions to development commissions and other agencies created by law.

- Cost of collection and cost of administration retained by designated revenue-collecting agencies as expressly provided under relevant legislation.

- Capital expenditure approved in separate budgets for some agencies and the Federal Capital Territory by the National Assembly.

- Special interventions approved by law to address national priorities such as security, infrastructure, disaster response, and other strategic national programmes or emergencies.

- Debt service obligations and other statutory transfers that are authorised under applicable legislation.

These expenditures are neither secret nor illegal. They are established by law, disclosed in various fiscal reports, and subject to applicable oversight, audit and accountability mechanisms. Their treatment for reporting purposes may differ from their presentation in the annual Appropriation Act, particularly under international statistical and reporting standards adopted by the Federal Government. Such classification differences should not be misrepresented as evidence of unlawful expenditure.

It is equally incorrect to suggest that the reported amount represents an increase in budget deficit. A fiscal deficit is determined by the relationship between total government revenues and total government expenditures. Whether a capital project is financed through annual appropriations, supplementary appropriations, statutory transfers, approved intervention mechanisms, or other lawful financing arrangements does not, by itself, increase the fiscal deficit.

Indeed, the IMF's observation relates primarily to the comprehensiveness, timing and presentation of fiscal reporting rather than the legality of expenditure. Like many countries, Nigeria continues to strengthen the alignment between budget presentation and international fiscal reporting standards as part of ongoing public financial management reforms. As a matter of fact, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR had himself formally requested the National Assembly to end the practice of running multiple and overlapping budgets, and rather harmonise into a single, cohesive framework during his presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025.

The Federal Government remains firmly committed to prudent fiscal management, transparency and accountability. Recent reforms have significantly strengthened public financial management with ongoing improvements in budget assumptions and credibility, transparent revenue administration, digitalisation of government financial processes, and stronger treasury management. These reforms have been acknowledged by the IMF itself and other multilateral institutions, as well as international credit rating agencies, major media organisations and investors.

Public debate is both welcome and essential in a democratic society. However, it should be based on facts and an accurate understanding of Nigeria's constitutional and fiscal framework. Mischaracterising technical observations as evidence of unlawful expenditure neither advances informed public discourse nor strengthens democratic accountability.

The Federal Government will continue to uphold the rule of law, maintain transparency in the management of public resources, and work with the National Assembly, oversight institutions, development partners and the Nigerian people to further strengthen fiscal governance in line with international best practices.

Signed:

Taiwo Oyedele
Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Source

From Shadow Government to Shadow Budget make we no hear Snake in the Monkey Shadow o ...

I'll rather believe IMF than believe anything that comes out from this fraud infested govt.

The useless minister of finance should keep quiet. Oga you captured funding for a fake agency or funding for a fake agency was budgeted for without your awareness. Either way, your competence is in doubt. You are not the one to be countering the IMF.

Yet, a non-existent agency's budget was captured in our national budget, presented to the National Assembly, and signed into law

Do you expect us to believe you?

Same you that once said he isn’t aware that the gazetted tax law is different from the one approved by the National assembly?

A government than can create a fake agency, create and approve a budget for it will do worse than have a shadow budget.

I don't think any human being in his or her sense will ever vote APC again

What is shadow budget compared the biggest and largest heist being perpetuated by the Tinubu regime

Oyedele is a very dishonest individual

We believe you until we have evidence

Sirianese:
Oyedele Obi is a very dishonest individual

Corrected.

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I can't wait for the downfall of APC. It's nearer than we think

This government can never get tired of telling lies. They ll have to lie to cover up more lies

My guy pastor they conceived am make him give Tinubu second chance vote for am, saying Tinubu go change.

Yet him never fit convince him daughter wey my girl break her heart to give am second Chance

HYPOCRITE

Sneezes!
We have Gbajabandit GATE shadow budget right in front of us and now IMF?😂

Too bad, you cannot eliminate IMF “middlemen”!

Muchechechecheche!

Peter Obi will be rejoicing!😂

treesun:
PRESS RELEASE

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

5 July 2026



Source

If u want to know the level of corruption and wickedness going in this government let another party win then u will see many trillions of naira stolen. Nigerians are in one chance with APC in power

pdppower:
I'll rather believe IMF than believe anything that comes out from this fraud infested govt.

The government of Tinubu is made of headless mob and kleptomaniacs. All of them are viewed as thieves right now. This is why it's often good to produce a leader with track record of integrity and honesty.

Barawo banza is what we have today as government.

MR taiwo, you are not an economist you are just a tax man,a tax collector.

this one blood still dey hot. I no know weda I go call am. j. j . c or what ? shey him no know say dis kind news fit dey possible. 9ja, a country of impossible possibilities

agulion:
I don't think any human being in his or her sense will ever vote APC again

There are many neanderthals who are not in their right senses (that's if neanderthals have right or wrong sense at all) who are roaming the streets and have pvcs ready to vote this sharm of a govt for a 2nd term.

They are in the millions!

You go explain tire, shey d former minister is out of the way

Sirianese:
Oyedele is a very dishonest individual

This administration will stain your white 🤷🏿.

agulion:
I don't think any human being in his or her sense will ever vote APC again

Dey play. Everyone is entitled to their choice.

pdppower:
I'll rather believe IMF than believe anything that comes out from this fraud infested govt.

He said he'd rather believe IMF SMH

When you want to Borrow money from them , .

THEY ARE COREECT..

when they expose the fraudulent acts you commit , they are wrong

Criminals in power

codedguy1:
There are many neanderthals who are not in their right senses (that's if neanderthals have right or wrong sense at all) who are roaming the streets and have pvcs ready to vote this sharm of a govt for a 2nd term.

They are in the millions!

Unfortunately. Evidence plenty for nairaland.

Just remembering a song by Idris.

Policeman go see white he go tell you "my brother I say this thing na black."

treesun:
PRESS RELEASE

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE

5 July 2026



Source

Mere sophistry. Too many words, too little sense

Imagine the clown of Apc government, calling the information of the god borrowing them money that knows your financial recklessness as inaccurate