The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the proposed N58.18 trillion 2026 budget delivers real and measurable benefits to ordinary Nigerians. She made this call on Friday during the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill at a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja.
President Tinubu presented the N58.18 trillion budget to lawmakers as part of his administration’s plans to address Nigeria’s economic and social challenges. The proposed spending plan is one of the largest budgets in the country’s history and reflects rising government responsibilities, inflation, and the need for major investments in security, infrastructure, and social services.
Reacting to the budget, Senator Natasha said the size of the budget alone should not be the main focus. Instead, she stressed that Nigerians are more interested in how government spending will affect their daily lives. According to her, impressive figures mean little if they do not lead to better living conditions for citizens.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the lawmaker described the budget presentation as an important moment for the country. However, she warned against placing too much emphasis on large numbers without paying attention to real outcomes.
“Of all the lengthy speeches, one line by Mr President struck me deeply,” she said. “It’s not the size of the budget but the quantum of impact felt by Nigerians.”
Senator Natasha explained that while the N58.18 trillion budget shows the scale of Nigeria’s ambitions and challenges, many citizens are struggling with high living costs, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and limited access to basic services. For them, she said, what matters most is whether the budget will bring relief and improvement.
She noted that Nigeria has had large budgets in the past, yet many communities still lack good roads, steady electricity, quality schools, and affordable healthcare. According to her, this gap between spending plans and real outcomes has made many Nigerians doubtful about government promises.
The Kogi Central senator said Nigerians expect budgets to deliver clear benefits such as sustainable job creation, improved infrastructure, affordable healthcare, quality education, and accessible social services. She added that government spending should be felt in homes, markets, farms, schools, and hospitals across the country.
“Nigerians are not just looking for big projections on paper,” she said. “They want to see real changes in their daily lives.”
The 2026 budget comes at a time when Nigeria is facing serious economic pressure. Inflation remains high, food prices have risen sharply, and many families are finding it difficult to meet basic needs. Although the government has introduced reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, their impact has been mixed, with many citizens saying they are yet to feel the benefits.
President Tinubu’s administration has argued that tough decisions, including subsidy removal and fiscal reforms, are necessary to fix long-standing problems in the economy. The government says the large budget is designed to support growth, improve security, and strengthen social protection.
However, Senator Natasha cautioned that fiscal size alone cannot solve Nigeria’s deep-rooted development challenges. She said proper planning, transparency, and effective implementation are key to making any budget successful.
She also called on the National Assembly to play its oversight role seriously by ensuring that funds approved in the budget are used for their intended purposes. According to her, lawmakers must go beyond approving figures and actively monitor how projects and programmes are carried out.
The lawmaker’s comments reflect a growing concern among Nigerians about accountability and value for money in government spending. Many citizens believe that corruption, waste, and poor execution have reduced the impact of past budgets.
Analysts say Senator Natasha’s remarks highlight an important debate around the 2026 budget: whether it will mark a turning point in translating government spending into visible development. Experts argue that for the budget to succeed, priority must be given to areas that directly affect the majority of Nigerians.
These areas include agriculture, which employs a large part of the population; power supply, which affects businesses and households; healthcare, which many Nigerians struggle to afford; and education, which remains underfunded in many states.
Infrastructure is another key issue. Poor roads, weak rail networks, and limited access to clean water continue to slow economic growth and worsen living conditions. Nigerians, especially in rural areas, often feel left out of development despite large national budgets.
Senator Natasha said the focus should be on policies and projects that reduce poverty and create opportunities for young people. With millions of Nigerian youths unemployed or underemployed, she stressed that job creation should be at the centre of the budget.
She also pointed to healthcare and education as critical sectors where government spending must produce clear results. According to her, no country can develop properly if its citizens cannot access quality schools and hospitals.
The joint sitting of the National Assembly where the budget was presented brought together members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It marked the formal start of the budget review process, during which lawmakers will examine the proposals in detail.
Over the coming weeks, committees of the National Assembly are expected to engage with government ministries, departments, and agencies to review budget estimates. Lawmakers may suggest changes before the budget is passed and signed into law.
As a senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has often spoken on issues of accountability, development, and good governance. Her latest comments align with calls from civil society groups and economic experts who say Nigeria needs budgets that focus more on results than rhetoric.
Many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether the 2026 budget will bring meaningful change. For traders facing rising costs, workers struggling with low wages, and families worried about school fees and hospital bills, the promise of impact matters more than the size of the figures announced.
As debates on the budget continue, Senator Natasha’s message serves as a reminder that government spending should be judged by its effect on the people. In her view, the success of the N58.18 trillion budget will not be measured by how big it is, but by how much it improves the lives of Nigerians across the country.
