Nigeria Calls for Budget Reform and Partnerships to Bridge Gap

Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, said the country lags behind peers such as Brazil in GDP and government revenue, stressing the need for stronger development partnerships with organisations like Catholic Relief Services (CRS). He linked the shortfall to limited resources for health, education and humanitarian programmes and noted that reforms by President Bola Tinubu, together with global shocks such as the Russia‑Ukraine war and Middle‑East conflict, have heightened inflationary pressures.

Analysts also warn that Nigeria’s budgeting system is dysfunctional, with the 2024‑2026 budgets being implemented simultaneously, causing funding delays, stalled infrastructure projects and accusations of budget padding. Calls are growing for a leaner, realistic budget that aligns spending with agency mandates and improves public confidence in government planning.