2026 Budget: Nigerians Seek Real Impact, Not Big Numbers – Natasha

Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the proposed ₦58.18 trillion 2026 budget delivers tangible benefits to ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking on Friday during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, the senator described the budget session as significant but warned against placing excessive emphasis on the size of the allocation rather than its outcomes.

According to her, the magnitude of a budget alone cannot address Nigeria’s long-standing development challenges without clear, measurable impact on citizens’ welfare.

She said one statement by the President stood out during the presentation, stressing that effective governance is determined not by figures on paper but by the real improvements people experience in their daily lives.

“The issue is not the size of the budget, but the level of impact it has on Nigerians,” she noted.

Akpoti-Uduaghan acknowledged that the ₦58.18 trillion spending proposal reflects the scale of the nation’s economic ambitions and structural problems but maintained that Nigerians are more concerned about how public funds translate into improved living conditions.

She added that citizens expect the budget to result in sustainable job creation, functional infrastructure, affordable healthcare, quality education and accessible social services, rather than remain impressive projections.

The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to prioritise effective implementation and accountability to ensure that the 2026 budget delivers meaningful and lasting benefits across the country.