Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has reacted to the N58.18trn 2026 budget President Bola Tinubu presented to the National Assembly on Friday.
Natasha urged Tinubu to ensure that the proposed N58.18trn 2026 Appropriation Bill delivers a measurable and positive impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during the budget presentation at the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, the lawmaker described the session as significant but cautioned against an overemphasis on headline figures at the expense of outcomes.
She equally cautioned that fiscal size alone cannot resolve the country’s deep-seated development challenges.
“Of all the lengthy speeches, one line by Mr President struck me deeply.
“It’s not the size of the budget but the quantum of impact felt by Nigerians,” she said.
According to her, while the projected N58.18trn spending plan reflects the scale of Nigeria’s economic ambitions and structural problems, citizens are far more concerned with how government spending translates into tangible improvements in their daily lives.
She further explained that Nigerians expect budgets to deliver improved living standards through sustainable job creation, functional infrastructure, affordable healthcare, quality education and accessible social services, rather than remain impressive projections on paper.
‘Nigerians want impact, not figures’ – Natasha on Tinubu’s N58.18trn budget
