News
PDP Makes Caricature of Budget 2026, Calling it Budget of Consolidated Renewed Suffering
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 Appropriation Bill, dismissing its official theme of “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity” as misleading and rebranding it the “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings.
”In a press statement issued on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party accused the APC-led administration of presiding over unmitigated hardship for ordinary Nigerians while the governing elite continues to enjoy affluence.
The PDP challenged President Tinubu’s claim of economic stabilisation, particularly his citation of a 3.98% GDP growth rate.
The party argued that growth figures alone do not translate to improved living standards, pointing to the World Bank’s 2025 Poverty & Equity Brief which indicates that over 30.9% of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line.
“This clearly indicates that whatever economic gains exist are not reaching the majority of Nigerians,” the statement read, describing the situation as “growth without prosperity.
“The opposition contrasted the current growth rate with the 6.87% recorded in the corresponding period of 2013 under the previous PDP administration, which it said was driven by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade. It accused the President of failing to specify the sectors driving the present growth or identify its beneficiaries, amid widespread hunger and soaring cost of living.
While acknowledging the allocation for security in the 2026 budget, the PDP stressed that funding alone is inadequate without effective and transparent implementation.
It demanded tangible outcomes, including modern equipment, sufficient ammunition, enhanced intelligence, and improved welfare for security personnel, noting reports that non-state actors in various conflict zones possess superior weaponry.
The party expressed deep concern over President Tinubu’s admission that the capital component of the 2024 budget has been extended to December 2025, while the 2025 budget remains operational.
The PDP described this as confirmation of long-standing rumours about the concurrent running of multiple budgets—a practice it condemned as a violation of fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability.
“This cannot be described as best practice, as every budget has a defined period of operation and no two budgets should operate concurrently,” the statement asserted, calling it “yet another unprecedented negative feat” by the Tinubu administration.
The PDP called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s finances, stating that these elements have been “conspicuously absent” under the current government and are essential for rebuilding public trust.
News
Police must pay transport fares, says AIG
” No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.
• The Assistant Inspector-General of Police(AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, speaking with transporters at Obalende garage, Lagos State, on Wednesday.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has declared that officers must pay fares before boarding commercial vehicles, warning against abuse of authority.
Jimoh spoke on Wednesday at Obalende garage during a sensitisation meeting with drivers and transport workers marking National Police Day 2026.
He stressed that relations between police and the public must be based on partnership, not coercion, urging both sides to support each other voluntarily.
“No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.
Jimoh called for stronger cooperation to maintain safety and order on roads, insisting there was no conflict between officers and transport unions.
“I don’t collect money from officers. We don’t arrest people arbitrarily. If you have issues with any officer, report directly to me,” he said.
(Vanguard)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave for Jos tomorrow to commiserate with the state government and residents over recent deadly gun attacks that lefts dozens dead.
This was following Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s security briefing to the President on the recent violent attack in Angwan Rukuba, Plateau State.
During the meeting on Wednesday at the presidential villa in Abuja, Governor Caleb Mutfwang told Mr President that although security forces have restored calm after fresh disturbances involving looters on Wednesday morning, following the deadly Palm Sunday attack that left more than a dozen dead and many others injured.
He said that investigations are continuing to determine the identities or motives of the attackers who are yet to be apprehended .
Presidency source said that President Tinubu was initially scheduled for a planned trip to Ogun State to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport on Thursday.
From Jos, the President will travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday.
On Saturday, April 4, he will visit Ogun State to commission projects including the cargo airport.
He will then return to Lagos during the Easter holiday to commission several state infrastructure projects, including the Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge.
Before heading back to Abuja, the president will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission projects completed under Governor Duoye Diri.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tomorrow embark on a visit to Jos, Plateau State, as the first leg of a five-state tour across the country.
The Presidency announced that the President has postponed his scheduled trip to Ogun State to enable him to commence the series of official visits.
Details of the remaining four states in the tour are expected to be released by the Presidency in due course.
The development comes as President Tinubu continues nationwide engagements aimed at assessing development projects, interacting with stakeholders, and addressing key national issues in the respective states.
Further updates on the itinerary will be communicated as the visits progress.
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