The National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has said its presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, would restore budget discipline and ensure that annual budgets are implemented on schedule if elected president.
The party said timely budget implementation would improve economic planning, strengthen investor confidence and accelerate the execution of government projects across the country.
NDC spokesman, Osa Director, made the position known while reacting to the continued implementation of the 2025 national budget in the last quarter of 2026 after it was approved by the National Assembly.
According to him, delayed budget execution has become a major challenge under the present administration, affecting contractors, investors and the delivery of public infrastructure.
> “Under the Tinubu-led administration, the national budget has always been implemented in arrears. In fact, there was a period when the 2024 and 2025 budgets were still running concurrently in 2026,” he said.
Director argued that implementing more than one budget within the same period creates uncertainty and weakens government planning.
> “Such recklessness and lack of seriousness distort the economy badly. Capital projects suffer, contractors are owed, and they either abandon sites or demand variations. This is why we have uncompleted roads everywhere,” Director stated.
He said annual budgets should serve as a clear economic roadmap for government, businesses and investors, adding that delayed implementation undermines effective planning and economic stability.
> “As a matter of economic truth, operating the 2025 budget in the last quarter of 2026 means you are not budgeting at all. You are just spending!” he said.
The NDC spokesman said an Obi administration would prioritise transparency, accountability and sound economic management to tackle corruption, poverty and underdevelopment.
> “These are the vicious cycles that an Obi presidency would break, liberating Nigeria from corruption, poverty, and underdevelopment,” he added.