Dare Babalola
Civil rights activist Mahdi Shehu has blasted President Bola Tinubu’s proposed ₦54 trillion budget for 2026, labelling it a mere “annual ritual of deception” that neglects the welfare of everyday Nigerians. Shehu criticised the budget, questioning its potential impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
Shehu made the remarks in a post shared on X on Friday, where he accused the Federal Government of using budget presentations to mislead the public into believing that it cares about citizens’ welfare.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s federal budgets since 1999, including President Tinubu’s 2023-2026 proposals, haven’t translated to better lives for most Nigerians, despite the massive numbers.
“The more you look at the figures and listen to the grammar used in budget presentations, the more you realise they are scams and elitist jamborees,” Shehu said.
He likened the budgets to a casino where you put in more and expect less.
Shehu alleged that the 2026 budget, like previous ones, would focus on servicing avoidable local and foreign debts, borrowing without a clear plan, and reckless spending on items that do not benefit the general public.
He also claimed that large sums are often allocated to luxury items, frequent foreign trips, and what he described as unconstitutional offices, while critical sectors that affect citizens’ daily lives are neglected.
Referring to past budgets tagged as Hope, consolidation, and inclusiveness, Shehu argued that they were misleading.
“Just ask yourself what happened to the 2023/2024/2025 so-called budgets of HOPE, CONSOLIDATION and INCLUSIVENESS that scandalously runned concurrently….they have been proved to be a deception because only the life and living of those within the power circle improved, but the rest of Nigerians are still gasping for survival oxygen.
“Believe any Budget presented by Tinubu at your own peril because it is not meant for you or us but for them and them alone. BUT A DAY IS COMING when all the budget deception will be over and truth will triumph over falsehood,” Mahdi wrote.
Recall that Tinubu is expected to present the country’s 2026 budget before the National Assembly on Friday.
