- PDP, Labour Party Criticize Budget Allocation Amid National Hardship
- APC Defends Entitlements, Calls for Balanced Assessment
The Federal Government’s allocation of a staggering ₦27 billion in the 2025 budget for former presidents, vice presidents, heads of state, chiefs of staff, and professors has sparked a heated debate between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties.
Presented by President Bola Tinubu, the 2025 budget, titled “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” allocates these funds to beneficiaries, including ex-presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as former vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Military leaders like Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) are also among the recipients.
Opposition: Misplaced Priorities
Critics have lambasted the allocation, describing it as insensitive in a country grappling with widespread poverty.
Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the funds should be redirected to social causes.
“This government is immune to public criticism and insensitive to the plight of the masses,” he said. “Instead of enriching billionaires like Obasanjo and Jonathan, invest in healthcare or create food banks for struggling Nigerians.”
The Labour Party’s National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, agreed, calling for a more measured approach.
“It’s not wrong to care for past leaders, but it must not come at the detriment of taxpayers,” he stated.
Similarly, Peter Ahmeh, National Secretary of the Coalition for United Political Parties, described the allocation as unfair.
“Elective office is voluntary. Former leaders already enjoyed allowances and honorariums while in office. This budget neglects the suffering masses and should be redirected to hospitals or agriculture,” Ahmeh argued.
APC: Entitlements Are Justified
Defending the budget, Nze Chidi Duru, Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, urged critics to see the allocation in context.
“Taking care of our former leaders is a privilege and reflects the dignity of the state. While it is valid to question excesses, their comfort is intertwined with the nation’s stability,” he said.
Duru also emphasized that the budget’s specifics are open to scrutiny by the National Assembly, urging opposition parties to focus on constructive interrogation rather than outright condemnation.
Call for Transparency
Other voices, like Shehu Gabam, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, demanded clarity on the allocation.
“Nigerians deserve to know the specifics. Whether it’s honorariums or periodic allowances, the Presidency must explain,” Gabam said.
National Sentiment Divided
The ₦27bn allocation underscores a broader debate on balancing state obligations to former leaders with the urgent needs of millions of Nigerians. As the budget progresses through the National Assembly, the government faces pressure to ensure transparency, fairness, and sensitivity to the realities faced by its citizens.
