Yahaya Abdullahi: Tinubu’s government losing credibility over failed budget execution

Yahaya Abdullahi, senator representing Kebbi north, says the federal government’s handling of the 2024 budget has “eroded” public trust. 

Speaking on Tuesday at the senate plenary, Abdullahi criticised the executive for failing to implement the budget and allegedly stalling payments to contractors, saying the situation poses a threat to national stability.

Abdullahi was contributing to a debate on a bill sponsored by Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west, which seeks to amend the 2024 appropriation act by extending its capital component to December 31, 2025.

“The second reading that has been rendered on this issue by our chairman of appropriation, to me, is quite interesting,” Abdullahi said.

“First, it’s interesting because I believe that the national assembly is not being taken into confidence by the executive arm of government on this very serious matter.

“This budget should have been implemented and everything done by December 31, 2024. We extended it by another six months to the end of June this year. Right now, what is going on is that activities of the government are being stalled.”

He claimed that the situation has left contractors stranded and ministries paralysed.

“Contractors who have even succeeded in completing their projects have not been paid,” he said.

“The system that they have adopted in getting payment done centrally from the office of the accountant-general of the federation has woefully failed.”

Abdullahi added that despite the national assembly’s efforts to alert the ministry of finance and other relevant agencies, no meaningful change has occurred.

“People have committed their resources, conducted government work, did everything, but up to now their payments have been stalled,” he said.

“There are so many projects, some ministries where even no work has been done in terms of going through the appropriation processes. So I think we need to know what really is happening.

“Some people are saying that there is a cash flow problem or whatever. I mean, the credibility of this government is getting very, very down.

“Workers whose salaries have been increased — we say we are giving them N35,000 additional money, we have created minimum wage, N70,000 — nobody has seen anything.

“So I think for the purpose of its own credibility, this government has to come to explain to Nigerians what is happening.”

He urged the leadership of the national assembly to take the matter directly to President Bola Tinubu.

“I think the leadership of the national assembly should engage, even if it means going to the Mr President because the country is financially bleeding,” he said.

“People are losing confidence in the capacity of the government to deliver on its own projects and promises.”

Abdullahi, who served as senate leader in the ninth assembly, said the situation was unprecedented in his legislative experience.

“This is the third session of my presence in this national assembly. We never had this. It has never happened like this,” he said.

He also criticised the return of a “cumbersome” and centralised payment system, which he said is starving ministries of funds and crippling project execution.

“The 2024 budget — we might forget about it. It has not even started,” he added.

The bill was, however, passed after the senate suspended its rules to fast-track first, second, and third readings.

ABDULLAHI’S DEFECTION TO APC

His comments come just six weeks after he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abdullahi was one of the Kebbi senators who defected from the PDP to the APC on May 13.

The others are Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central; and Garba Maidoki, Kebbi south senator.