Budget Non-Implementation Is a Breach of Law, Impeachable Offence – Senator Monguno Challenges Finance Ministry

Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, who represents Borno North Senatorial District, has questioned the Federal Government over the poor implementation of the national budget, describing the failure to execute approved appropriations as a breach of the law and an impeachable offence.

Speaking during a session with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Monguno expressed concern that despite government reports of increased revenue, Nigerians were yet to see the expected dividends of democracy due to delays in budget implementation.

“I have listened carefully to your brief and the very beautiful figures that you have reeled out. Why are these revenues going to?” the senator asked.

He noted that the 2025 budget had not been substantially implemented, forcing the National Assembly to extend its lifespan until September to allow the government to execute just 30 per cent of the approved projects.

“The 2026 budget has not even arisen. Yet the 2025 budget is still being rolled over. Why is the budget not being implemented? It is through the implementation of the budget that the dividends of democracy are brought to the doorsteps of the people,” he said.

Monguno further raised concerns over funding for security agencies, stating that several agencies had informed lawmakers that they had received no capital allocations despite worsening security challenges.

“Security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government. All the security agencies we have interacted with are reporting that they have received zero allocation for capital projects,” he said.

The senator also queried the handling of federal revenue, revealing that while about ₦3.7 trillion was reportedly received in one month, only ₦2 trillion was distributed to the three tiers of government.

“About ₦1.7 trillion was retained. Why was it retained? Why was the entire ₦3.7 trillion not disbursed to the three tiers of government?” he asked.

Responding, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, clarified issues surrounding the country’s debt profile, explaining that public reports often confuse National Assembly borrowing approvals with actual loans obtained by the government.

According to Oyedele, while the National Assembly may approve borrowing ceilings based on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the government does not necessarily draw the full approved amount.

“We have not exceeded what the National Assembly approved. In fact, we have not even taken half of what was approved,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Finance was preparing a detailed breakdown showing the amounts approved by the National Assembly, the actual sums borrowed, and how the funds had been utilised.

Oyedele also stressed that government borrowing is regulated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which permits borrowing only for capital expenditure and human development.

Addressing concerns over the country’s rising public debt, he noted that comparisons between the current debt stock and that inherited by the administration often fail to distinguish between approved borrowing limits and actual debt incurred.