Nigerian govt not operating “shadow budget”

The Federal Government has dismissed claims that it spent more than ₦8 trillion outside the approved budget, insisting that it does not operate a “shadow budget” and that all public expenditures are carried out within the framework of the Constitution and relevant laws.

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In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, described recent public commentary suggesting that about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was spent outside legislative approval as inaccurate and misleading.

The minister said the claims, reportedly linked to references made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its 2026 Article IV Consultation Report, created a false impression about the Federal Government’s financial management practices.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government does not operate a ‘shadow budget’ or expend public funds outside the constitutional and statutory framework established for public finance,” Mr Oyedele stated.

He explained that under Sections 80 to 83 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, public funds may be withdrawn and spent only in accordance with constitutional provisions and laws enacted by the National Assembly.

According to him, federal expenditures are undertaken through duly enacted Appropriation Acts, Supplementary Appropriation Acts and other statutory authorisations approved by lawmakers.

The minister also noted that multi-year capital projects, which often extend beyond a single fiscal year, are implemented under existing legal provisions, including approved capital rollovers where necessary.

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He argued that such arrangements are standard features of public financial management and should not be interpreted as spending outside the budget.

Mr Oyedele challenged those making the allegations to provide evidence of specific projects allegedly executed without appropriation or legal authorisation.

“Such allegations should have identified the specific projects purportedly executed without appropriation or legal authority and present credible evidence in support of the claim,” he said.

The minister further explained that Nigeria’s fiscal framework includes several statutory transfers, first-line charges and intervention mechanisms established by Acts of the National Assembly.

These include statutory allocations to development commissions and agencies created by law, cost-of-collection provisions for revenue-generating agencies, capital expenditures approved through separate budgets, special interventions addressing national priorities, as well as debt service obligations and other statutory transfers.

He stressed that these expenditures are lawful, publicly disclosed and subject to oversight, audit and accountability mechanisms.

According to Mr Oyedele, differences between how such expenditures are reported in fiscal documents and how they appear in annual appropriation laws often arise from international reporting standards and should not be misconstrued as evidence of unlawful spending.

The minister also rejected suggestions that the reported amount represented an increase in Nigeria’s fiscal deficit.

He explained that fiscal deficits are determined by the relationship between total government revenues and expenditures, adding that the source of financing for approved projects does not automatically increase the deficit.

Mr Oyedele said the IMF’s observations were largely focused on improving the comprehensiveness, timing and presentation of fiscal reporting rather than questioning the legality of government spending.

He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had, during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in December 2025, advocated harmonising multiple and overlapping budgets into a single, cohesive framework.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent fiscal management, noting that ongoing reforms have strengthened budget credibility, revenue administration, treasury management and the digitalisation of government financial processes.

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He added that these reforms have received recognition from the IMF, other multilateral institutions, international credit rating agencies, investors and major global media organisations.

While welcoming public scrutiny of government finances, Mr Oyedele urged commentators to ensure that debates are based on facts and a proper understanding of Nigeria’s constitutional and fiscal framework.

“The Federal Government will continue to uphold the rule of law, maintain transparency in the management of public resources, and work with the National Assembly, oversight institutions, development partners and the Nigerian people further to strengthen fiscal governance in line with international best practices,” he said.