₦58 Trillion Budget, No Results: Nigeria’s Spending Paradox Under Tinubu.

In Nigeria, the size of the national budget is often treated as a symbol of ambition—but leadership is measured by results, not figures on paper. By that standard, the current administration under Bola Ahmed Tinubu raises serious questions.
Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the highest annual budget was ₦5 trillion. Despite subsidies on fuel, electricity, and education, Jonathan’s administration built six new universities and delivered multiple infrastructure projects that Nigerians still benefit from today.
President Muhammadu Buhari raised annual budgets to ₦22 trillion, grappling with rising security threats and economic pressures. Progress was slower, yet measurable outcomes in infrastructure and social programs were evident.
Now, under Tinubu, the 2026 budget is pegged at ₦58 trillion, with more than ₦50 trillion borrowed and subsidies removed. Yet, Nigerians are asking: what tangible benefits have emerged? Roads remain in disrepair, electricity is unreliable, universities struggle with underfunding, and insecurity persists in multiple regions.
The contrast is stark. Ten times the budget compared to Jonathan, yet the returns in human development, infrastructure, and security are marginal at best. While numbers on paper impress, citizens’ lived realities tell a different story.
Leadership is ultimately judged by delivery. Ambition alone cannot replace results. Until there is visible progress, skepticism about this administration’s ability to transform Nigeria is not only justified—it is unavoidable.