ABUJA — The ambitious “Renewed Hope” agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration is facing a severe internal crisis, as heads of federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) continue to voice bitter complaints over the persistent non-release or partial release of appropriated funds.
Despite the National Assembly passing record-breaking budgets, many agencies report being financially “crippled,” with some receiving less than a quarter of their approved capital allocations since the current administration took office in 2023.
A Growing Wave of Complaints
The frustration within the civil service has reached a boiling point during recent budget defence sessions at the National Assembly. Top officials from various MDAs have lamented that the lack of cash backing has brought critical national projects to a standstill.
“We have a budget on paper, but in reality, our accounts are empty,” one frustrated agency head noted, echoing a sentiment that has become a recurring theme in the 2024, 2025, and now 2026 fiscal cycles.
Senate Threatens “Zero Allocation”Â
The crisis took a dramatic turn on Thursday, February 12, 2026, when the Senate Committee on Finance issued a stern ultimatum to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
Frustrated by the “zero capital” releases to multiple ministries, the committee, chaired by Senator Sani Musa, threatened to withhold the 2026 budgetary allocation for the Accountant-General’s office itself. Lawmakers expressed deep embarrassment over the surge of contractors “bombarding” the National Assembly weekly over unpaid debts for executed projects, which now exceed ₦2.2 trillion.
The Government’s Defense: Fiscal Discipline
Responding to the barrage of criticisms, Accountant-General Shamseldeen Ogunjimi attributed the delays to a new, stricter fiscal regime.
- “No Funds, No Contract” Directive:Â The OAGF has banned MDAs from awarding contracts without a corresponding warrant proving funds are available.
- Ending “Ways and Means”:Â The administration has moved away from borrowing from the Central Bank to fund the budget, meaning disbursements now rely strictly on actual revenue collected.
- 70% Rollover:Â To manage the backlog, the government has directed that 70% of 2025’s capital budget be rolled over into the 2026 fiscal year, effectively halting new projects to focus on completing existing ones.
A Crisis of Confidence
While Finance Minister Wale Edun maintains that these reforms are necessary for “performance-based” budgeting, critics and opposition parties like the ADC have labeled the 2026 budget a “dangerous debt trap”. For the heads of MDAs caught in the middle, the primary concern remains the same: without the release of funds, the government’s promises remain nothing more than ink on paper.
