2026 BUDGET: TIMI FRANK SEEKS TRANSPARENCY, STRONGER OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC SPENDING

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the proposed 2026 federal budget, calling for greater transparency, accountability and stronger oversight in the management of public funds.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Frank said the ongoing public debate over the budget had heightened scrutiny of government spending and underscored the need for institutions responsible for public financial management to uphold the principles of openness and accountability.

He urged the Federal Government to strengthen accountability mechanisms to restore public confidence in governance and ensure that public resources are managed prudently.

“The recent revelations and controversy surrounding the 2026 Federal Budget have further reinforced the widespread perception that this administration represents one of the most troubling governments in Nigeria’s recent history,” he said.

Frank added that allegations of inflated budgetary provisions and questionable expenditures had raised fresh concerns about the credibility of the budgeting process.

“Allegations of inflated budgetary allocations, fictitious projects and questionable expenditures have once again raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and the stewardship of public resources,” he added.

The former APC spokesman also called on the National Assembly to discharge its constitutional responsibility of scrutinising government expenditure and providing effective oversight of the executive arm of government.

According to him, public perception that the legislature has not been sufficiently independent in exercising its oversight powers could weaken democratic institutions and public trust.

“Rather than serving as an independent institution responsible for holding the executive accountable, the National Assembly is widely viewed as having abandoned its constitutional responsibility by acting in a manner that appears overly accommodating to the executive.

“Such perceptions weaken democratic institutions and undermine the principles upon which constitutional governance is founded,” he said.

He further appealed to Nigeria’s international development partners to continue supporting the country while encouraging stricter safeguards to ensure that development assistance is transparently managed and reaches intended beneficiaries.

“I welcome recent discussions within the United States Congress regarding a review of assistance to Nigeria and urge other international partners to ensure that any future financial support is accompanied by strict transparency, accountability and monitoring measures that guarantee the resources directly benefit the Nigerian people,” he added.

He also called on Nigerians to remain peaceful while using democratic channels to demand greater accountability from elected and appointed public officials.

“The future of our nation depends on citizens demanding accountability, defending democratic institutions and exercising their constitutional right to vote for leaders they believe will restore integrity, competence and genuine public service to government,” he said.

Frank’s comments come amid heightened public scrutiny of the proposed 2026 federal budget following allegations of inflated allocations, duplicated items and questionable projects, which have dominated public discourse in recent weeks.

The controversy has sparked renewed calls from opposition politicians, civil society organisations and governance advocates for greater transparency in the budgeting process and stricter legislative oversight of public expenditure.

The federal budget serves as the government’s primary fiscal policy instrument, outlining projected revenues and planned expenditure for the financial year.

Budget integrity is widely regarded as essential for fiscal discipline, efficient service delivery and public confidence in government. Allegations of irregularities in budget preparation or implementation have, over the years, fuelled concerns about waste, accountability and the effective use of public resources in Nigeria.