By Myke Uzendu
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of misplacing its spending priorities, alleging that huge expenditure on campaign propaganda, political advertisements and patronage has come at the expense of critical sectors of the economy.
The party said the development could explain the government’s failure to adequately fund key sectors in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, as well as what it described as the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the 2026 budget.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDC National Campaign Council Spokesperson, Dr. Chiogo Ikokwu, said the party had observed a growing wave of political advertisements, gifts, donations, vehicles, laptops, sewing machines, food items and other forms of largesse distributed by groups and individuals claiming to support President Tinubu’s mandate.
Ikokwu questioned how an administration benefiting from fuel subsidy removal revenues and increased taxation could allegedly struggle to fund essential social services and infrastructure while substantial resources appeared to be available for political publicity and patronage.
She cited reported figures indicating that only about seven per cent of the Defence Capital Budget was released in 2025, despite persistent insecurity across the country.
The NDC spokesperson also referred to a report by the Minister of Health that only ₦36 million out of the ₦218 billion allocated to health capital expenditure was released in the same year.
She expressed concern that some state governments, particularly those that had joined the APC, were allegedly displaying similar budgetary funding challenges while resources were being channelled into campaign propaganda.
The party argued that the situation raised questions about the administration’s priorities, particularly in the areas of national security, healthcare, education, federal roads and the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
According to Ikokwu, the alleged misplacement of priorities, coupled with decaying infrastructure and poor governance, was contributing to political intimidation and violence aimed at discouraging voters from participating in the January 2027 elections.
