Nigeria's Budget Office Misses Quarterly Reports, Breaching Fiscal Responsibility Act

Nigeria's Budget Office of the Federation has not published its statutory quarterly budget implementation reports for the third quarter of 2025, the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 – the first such lapse in 15 years. The omission violates Sections 30 and 50 of the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Act, which require quarterly evaluation and publication within 30 days of each quarter’s end. The deadline for the Q1 2026 report passed on 30 April 2026 with no document uploaded.

The silence has provoked criticism from civil‑society groups, fiscal watchdogs and financial analysts, especially as the country faces over 33 % inflation and the recent removal of fuel subsidies. Observers note similar transparency gaps at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Open Treasury Portal, raising concerns among investors about the ability to verify legal use of public funds.

Dr Tanimu Yakubu explained that the delay stems from the December 2025 repeal and re‑enactment of the 2025 Appropriation Act and an extension of budget implementation to June 2026. He emphasized that “a fiscal year is defined by law, not by the calendar,” arguing that the extended reporting timeline follows constitutional provisions and global best practice rather than constituting an anomaly.