By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed claims that it spent more than N8 trillion, equivalent to about two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), outside the approved budget, describing the reports as a misinterpretation of references to the IMF Representative in Nigeria and the Fund’s 2026 Article IV Consultation Report.
The government said the allegations were false and could mislead the public about the country’s fiscal management, insisting that all public spending is carried out within the constitutional and statutory framework governing public finance.
In a statement issued at the weekend, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said the Federal Government does not operate a “shadow budget” or expend public funds outside the legally approved budgetary process.
Oyedele, however, noted that under Sections 80–83 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), public funds may only be withdrawn and expended in accordance with the Constitution and laws enacted by the National Assembly.
Accordingly, Federal Government expenditure is incurred pursuant to duly enacted Appropriation Acts, Supplementary Appropriation Acts, and other statutory authorities enacted by the National Assembly. In addition, multi-year capital projects that necessarily span multiple budgets are implemented in accordance with extant laws and approved provisions for capital rollovers, where applicable. These are recognised features of public financial management and should not be misconstrued as expenditures outside the budget.
“It is inaccurate to suggest that trillions of naira have been secretly spent outside legislative approval. Such allegations should identify the specific projects purportedly executed without appropriation or legal authority and present credible evidence in support of the claim. To be meaningful, assertions of this magnitude must be supported by verifiable facts rather than conjecture,” he said.
For the purpose of public education, he said, it is important to distinguish between appropriation, expenditure authorisation, financing and fiscal reporting.
Nigeria’s public finance framework contains several statutory transfers, first-line charges and intervention mechanisms established by Acts of the National Assembly. These include: Statutory allocations and contributions to development commissions and other agencies created by law, Costs of collection and administration retained by designated revenue-collecting agencies, as expressly provided under relevant legislation.
Others are, Capital expenditure approved in separate budgets for some agencies and the Federal Capital Territory by the National Assembly, Special interventions approved by law to address national priorities such as security, infrastructure, disaster response and other strategic national programmes or emergencies and Debt service obligations and other statutory transfers authorised under applicable legislation.
According to the minister, these expenditures are neither secret nor illegal. They are established by law, disclosed in various fiscal reports, and subject to applicable oversight, audit and accountability mechanisms.
“Their treatment for reporting purposes may differ from their presentation in the annual Appropriation Act, particularly under international statistical and reporting standards adopted by the Federal Government. Such classification differences should not be misrepresented as evidence of unlawful expenditure,” he said.
Oyedele added that it is equally incorrect to suggest that the reported amount represents an increase in the budget deficit.
“A fiscal deficit is determined by the relationship between total government revenues and total government expenditures. Whether a capital project is financed through annual appropriations, supplementary appropriations, statutory transfers, approved intervention mechanisms or other lawful financing arrangements does not, by itself, increase the fiscal deficit,” he said.
He explained that the IMF’s observation relates primarily to the comprehensiveness, timing and presentation of fiscal reporting rather than the legality of expenditure.
“Like many countries, Nigeria continues to strengthen the alignment between budget presentation and international fiscal reporting standards as part of ongoing public financial management reforms. As a matter of fact, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, formally requested the National Assembly to end the practice of running multiple and overlapping budgets and harmonise them into a single, cohesive framework during his presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025,” he said.
The minister stated that the Federal Government remains firmly committed to prudent fiscal management, transparency and accountability.
He noted that recent reforms have significantly strengthened public financial management through ongoing improvements in budget assumptions and credibility, transparent revenue administration, the digitalisation of government financial processes, and stronger treasury management.
“These reforms have been acknowledged by the IMF itself and other multilateral institutions, as well as international credit rating agencies, major media organisations and investors,” he added.
Oyedele said public debate is both welcome and essential in a democratic society but should be based on facts and an accurate understanding of Nigeria’s constitutional and fiscal framework.
“Mischaracterising technical observations as evidence of unlawful expenditure neither advances informed public discourse nor strengthens democratic accountability,” he said.He reaffirmed that the Federal Government would 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 to further strengthen fiscal governance in line with international best practices.
