By Aisha Ahmed
Nigeria, March 26, 2026
A growing fiscal credibility crisis is unfolding as the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) raises alarm over what it describes as persistent failures by the Nigerian Government, to implement capital components of the national budget, an omission it says is worsening poverty and stalling development nationwide.
In a strongly worded statement issued on March 25, 2026, the civic advocacy group accused the government of sustaining a pattern of underperformance in capital expenditure, despite repeated commitments to reform public finance management.
The group’s position is anchored on data from the Budget Office of the Federation, which it says exposes a troubling disconnect between budgetary promises and actual project execution.
According to CHRICED’s analysis, only ₦3.27 trillion of the ₦9.9 trillion capital allocation for the 2024 fiscal year was ultimately utilized, leaving critical infrastructure and development targets unmet.
Although utilization stood at over 80 percent of released funds, the group emphasized that releases themselves fell significantly short, effectively undermining overall performance.
The situation, CHRICED noted, deteriorated further in 2025. The absence of third and fourth quarter implementation reports, contrary to statutory requirements, has raised transparency concerns.
Available figures indicate that less than one percent of the ₦23.44 trillion capital budget was released in the first half of the year, signaling what the group termed “near-total non-implementation.”
Framing the issue against Nigeria’s broader economic realities, CHRICED argued that the failure to execute capital projects has compounded hardship for citizens already grappling with inflationary pressures, high fuel costs, and declining living standards.
The group warned that neglecting investments in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and power is accelerating socio-economic decline and widening inequality.
It also pointed to what it described as a structural imbalance in fiscal priorities, where recurrent expenditures, largely tied to the cost of governance, continue to receive full funding, while development-oriented spending is sidelined.
This, CHRICED said, erodes public trust and weakens economic growth prospects.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the organization expressed concern that political considerations could further distort budget implementation.
It cautioned against the possible diversion of public funds for electoral purposes, warning that such practices could fuel corruption and intensify inflationary trends.
The group also took aim at the National Assembly, criticizing its perceived silence and failure to exercise effective oversight over budget execution.
This, it argued, raises questions about institutional accountability and commitment to safeguarding public interest.
CHRICED maintained that, given the administration’s budget performance over the past three years, there is little evidence of tangible development outcomes to justify renewed political mandates.
To address the situation, the organization called for a comprehensive audit of capital allocations between 2023 and 2026, immediate publication of all outstanding 2025 budget reports, and stricter accountability measures for public officials seeking elective office.
It also urged citizens to demand greater transparency and responsible governance.
As fiscal pressures mount, CHRICED’s intervention underscores a critical question confronting Nigeria’s economic management: whether budgetary commitments can translate into real development outcomes, or remain a cycle of unfulfilled promises.
