Conflicting figures have emerged around the proposed 2026 federal government budget, raising questions over the exact size of Nigeria’s spending plan.
President Bola Tinubu on December 19, 2025, presented a N58.18tn budget proposal to the national assembly.
He outlined the key aggregates as expected revenue of N34.33tn, total expenditure of N58.18tn, recurrent non-debt spending of N15.25tn, and capital expenditure of N26.08tn.
According to the president, the projected revenue leaves a budget deficit of N23.85tn, representing 4.28 per cent of gross domestic product.
After the presentation, a civic tech organisation reported a different total for the proposed spending framework.
BudgIT, a civic tech non-profit organisation, stated that the 2026 budget stood at N58.47tn.
The organisation said the appropriation bill includes capital expenditure of N25.68tn, debt servicing of N15.52tn, personnel costs of N10.75tn, statutory transfers of N4.1tn, and overhead costs of N2.22tn.
However, checks showed that the individual components cited by BudgIT summed up to N58.27tn, rather than the N58.47tn reported.
Earlier on December 19, the federal executive council approved the 2026 appropriation bill with aggregate expenditure pegged at N58.47tn.
The differing totals have sparked concerns over clarity and consistency in Nigeria’s budget preparation and approval process.
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