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Senate Says FG Idle, Bemoans Abandoned Projects
The Senate has returned a damning indictment on the Presidency which it accused of underperformance and policy somersaults as well as failure to use national budgets to impact positively on Nigerians.
The upper legislative house also took a swipe on the Presidency over the over planning and implementation of national budgets which has resulted in many abandoned projects.
David Mark, Senate President criticised the Federal Government for abandoning projects and maintaining inconsistent economic policies, which he said are not in the best interest of the nation
He spoke during the debate of a motion sponsored by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (ACN, Ekiti North and 46 others calling for a review of the national planning and budgeting process.
Mark said: “Over the years, our budgets have not brought growth, have not improved the employment rate and have not brought dividends of democracy to Nigerians, as fast as expected. There is basically a problem with the envelope system, and that must change.
“Our committees would take full responsibility if they’re unable to effect changes in the next budget because if things are alright on paper and practically on ground things are not alright, we need to review the way we go about things.
“Some people have failed in their responsibilities; while others who have become powerful have hijacked other people’s work. If you go through the National Planning Commission Act, the objectives and functions of the commission, the system has not worked because those operating it are simply resistant to changes. They don’t want to change the system because changing it means they’ll lose the authority they’ve arrogated to themselves.”
Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba slammed the executive for allegedly side-lining the legislature in budget planning and process. He said this has made it possible for the government to grossly under-develop the country.
“Those who see the budget proposal presented to the National Assembly as a scripture, to which no amendment can be allowed, should now know that they’re in error. If the ultimate responsibility for budget planning and the appropriation power resides with the National Assembly, it is only logical that the legislature should be part of the process that leads to that annual budgetary process,” the Senate leader said.
“But now, there is a disconnect between the body that has the ultimate responsibility for appropriation and the body that does the planning. That is why we’re in a situation where national plans that should deliver development, employment are rather delivering uncompleted projects, unemployment and poverty,” he added.
Ndoma-Egba, who condemned the envelope system of budgeting, said: “I’ve tried to rationalise the logic behind the envelope system and I must confess that the more I think about it, the more confused I get. It’s like building a house and putting the rafters around April and you’re hurrying to roof before the rain sets in.
“The Ministry of Finance brings an envelope that tells you that out of the four rooms in the house, the envelope can only deliver the roofing of one room so that if you roof one roof, the rain comes to destroy the other three rooms. The next year, you’re back to square one where you’ve a house without the roof. The envelope system has no meaning and we must take a second look at it.”
“This is an opportunity for us to look at the ratio between recurrent and capital expenditures. It’s the capital expenditure that delivers development. In a situation where over 70 percent of our national budget is dedicated to the recurrent expenditure, we can only deliver poverty, not development. The time has come for us to take a surgical view of our planning and budgeting process”.
Deputy Senate Leader Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) described the powers given to the finance minister over budget as too excessive, saying “we’ve never had the opportunity to listen to ministers of National Planning on budget matters. We’ve always been overwhelmed by the powers of finance ministers over the years. The finance minister cannot continue to plan and execute budget. The planning should be done by the National Planning Minister. We need to have a budget office of the National Assembly to analyse national budgets.”
Senator Bernabas Gemade (PDP, Benue) chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning, bemoaned what he called lack of national infrastructural plan, Senator Adamu Gumba (PDP, Bauchi) suggested that the budget office of the federation be moved to the National Planning Commission to ensure budget discipline. He said arbitrary budget process must stop.
Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to reject the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion, warning that the move would significantly deepen Nigeria’s debt crisis.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the advocacy group warned that the proposed borrowing would raise Nigeria’s total debt stock to an estimated ₦183 trillion—an amount it described as “clearly not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
“The National Assembly must immediately refuse to approve the Tinubu administration’s request to borrow $24 billion,” the group said. “The growing national debt is not sustainable and not in the public interest.”
SERAP expressed concern over the heavy burden of debt servicing, which it said is already consuming a substantial portion of government revenue, leaving little room for critical public investment.
Nigeria’s total public debt is projected to surpass ₦180 trillion following the president’s latest loan request. The borrowing plan includes a proposal for over $21.5 billion in external loans, which equates to ₦33.39 trillion at the official exchange rate of ₦1,590 per dollar. The administration is also seeking approval for a domestic bond issuance worth ₦757.9 billion to settle outstanding pension liabilities.
President Tinubu said the 2025–2026 borrowing plan targets key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, water supply, security, and employment generation. He noted that the plan is also intended to cushion the economic impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The total loan request comprises $21.5 billion, €2.19 billion, and 15 billion Japanese Yen, alongside a €65 million grant. Tinubu assured lawmakers that the funds would be directed toward development projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with emphasis on rail networks, healthcare infrastructure, and poverty alleviation programs.
On pension-related borrowing, the president explained that the proposed bond issuance is aimed at clearing backlogs under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The measure, he added, has already received approval from the Federal Executive Council and is expected to improve retirees’ welfare, restore trust in the pension system, and inject liquidity into the economy.
Nigeria’s public debt has surged in recent years, rising by 48.6% in 2024 to ₦144.66 trillion—up from ₦97.34 trillion in 2023. The Federal Government accounts for 95% of that total.
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