Over 30.9% of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line - PDP

Sunday, December 21, 2025 - The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 budget, describing it as a “budget of consolidated renewed sufferings” for Nigerians.

The opposition party said the budget, presented to the National Assembly under the theme “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” masks the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens.

In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party noted that despite the government’s claim of stabilizing the economy, Nigerians continue to face rising poverty and hardship.

“More than 30.9 per cent of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line,” PDP said, citing the 2025 World Bank Poverty & Equity Brief.

The party also questioned the economic growth figure of 3.98 per cent highlighted by President Tinubu, arguing that it fails to translate into improved living standards.

“While the President celebrates a 3.98 per cent growth rate, the reality for Nigerians is excruciating hunger, a high cost of living, and other indices of economic hardship,” the statement said.

The party further contrasted this with the 6.87 per cent growth recorded in 2013 under the previous administration, driven largely by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade.

On security allocations in the 2026 budget, PDP welcomed the funds but stressed that allocation alone is insufficient.

“We demand effective and transparent execution to ensure that security funding translates into modern equipment, adequate ammunition, improved intelligence, and better welfare for security personnel,” the party said.

PDP also raised concerns over the delayed execution of the 2024 capital budget, extended into December 2025 while the 2025 budget is still in force.

“The operation of different budgets at the same time undermines fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability,” the statement warned.

The opposition party called for greater transparency and accountability in government finances, saying these remain critical for public trust and effective governance under the Tinubu administration.