The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the most incompetent government in Nigeria’s history, accusing it of fiscal mismanagement, weak budget execution, and frequent policy reversals.
The opposition party said the government has created an unusual situation where three national budgets are being run simultaneously without effective implementation.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the administration’s focus on re-election politics rather than governance has worsened the country’s challenges.
According to the ADC, recent reports indicate deep confusion in the government’s management of national budgets since 2024.
“This is the first time in Nigeria’s history that any government is running three budgets at the same time while implementing none effectively,” the statement said.
The party noted that although the 2024 budget was extended into 2025, only 17.7 percent of the capital component had been released by the third quarter of 2025, while overall implementation remained below 30 percent.
ADC also rejected the government’s explanation that the overlapping budgets were designed to complete multi-year projects, describing the claim as misleading.
It further alleged that about 30 percent of the 2025 budget is expected to run between February and November 2026, while the remaining 70 percent has been rolled into the 2026 budget, which is still being considered by the National Assembly of Nigeria three months into the year.
The party also criticised what it described as poor funding for key sectors. It said capital budget implementation for the Ministry of Power stands at 3.6 percent, Communications Technology at 8.9 percent, while Education and Health recorded 23.5 percent and 32.5 percent respectively.
According to the ADC, these sectors are critical to human capital development and should not be neglected while government officials continue to live in luxury amid rising poverty.
The party noted that the only ministry that has exceeded its budget allocation is the Ministry of Defence, which reportedly recorded 113.45 percent implementation, largely through emergency funding under the Service-Wide Vote.
Despite this, the ADC said insecurity continues to worsen, alleging that hundreds of Nigerians have been killed by terrorists in recent weeks across Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Kebbi states.
The opposition party also questioned the government’s claims of improved revenue generation and rising foreign reserves, arguing that the administration has borrowed more aggressively than any previous government.
“Budgets remain largely unimplemented while contractors remain unpaid. Nigerians are therefore asking what the government is doing with revenue from loans, taxes, and other earnings,” the statement said.
The ADC further accused the administration of repeatedly reversing major policy and appointment decisions, claiming analysts have recorded at least seven such reversals since the government assumed office.
According to the party, the pattern reflects an administration more focused on politics and power than governance.
It added that Nigeria still ranks among countries with the highest number of people living in extreme poverty, with millions struggling to meet basic needs.
Source: Leadership.ng
