Natasha Akpoti: It’s impact of 2026 budget — not size — that will matter

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has described the 2026 budget as significant but cautioned that Nigeria’s development challenges cannot be solved by figures alone.

The senator spoke to journalists on Friday while reacting to the record N58.18 trillion 2026 appropriation bill presented to a joint sitting of the national assembly by President Bola Tinubu.

The president said the spending plan outlines the federal government’s fiscal roadmap amid expectations for economic relief, improved service delivery and measurable governance outcomes.

Tinubu told senators, members of the house of representatives, and top government officials, that the budget prioritises economic stabilisation, growth, infrastructure development and social welfare.

“Of all the lengthy speeches, one line by Mr President struck me deeply,” she said.

“It’s not the size of the budget but the quanta of impact felt by Nigerians.”

The senator said while the proposal reflects the scale of Nigeria’s ambitions, citizens are more concerned about how budgetary provisions translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives.

She said Nigerians expect budgets to deliver better living standards, sustainable job creation, functional infrastructure, affordable healthcare, quality education, and accessible social services.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said accountability in governance is a shared responsibility between leaders and the citizenry.

“Leaders must do better, and citizens must demand accountability,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the senate committee on finance, said lawmakers will interrogate revenue assumptions, debt sustainability, sectoral allocations and implementation strategies in the coming weeks.

On his part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the 2026 appropriation bill as a statement of intent and a roadmap for Nigeria’s next phase of national renewal.