ADC accuses Tinubu of running most incompetent government...

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the most incompetent government in Nigeria’s history, citing what it called fiscal confusion, poor budget implementation, and repeated policy and appointment reversals.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government of prioritising re-election politics over governance, with what it termed damaging consequences for the country.

According to the ADC, the federal government has been operating three national budgets simultaneously since 2024 without effectively implementing any of them.

“This is the first time in Nigerian history that any government would be running three budgets at the same time while implementing none,” the statement read.

The party pointed to reports indicating that the 2024 budget was rolled over into 2025, yet by the third quarter of 2025, only 17.7 per cent of the capital component had been released, with overall implementation below 30 per cent.

It also faulted the government’s explanation that the overlapping budgets were a “deliberate strategy” and “transition cost” aimed at completing multi-year projects.

“This is a blatant falsehood that cannot hold up to any scrutiny,” the ADC said.

The statement further alleged that 30 per cent of the 2025 budget is scheduled to run from February to November 30, 2026, while the remaining 70 per cent is being rolled into the 2026 budget, which is still under consideration by the National Assembly three months into the year.

CBI News reports that the party also referenced a prior assurance by President Tinubu that all capital components of the 2024 and 2025 budgets would be concluded by March 31, 2026, describing the pledge as unrealistic.

The ADC claimed that capital budget implementation for the Ministry of Power stood at 3.6 per cent, Communications Technology at 8.9 per cent, Education at 23.5 per cent, and Health at 32.5 per cent.

“Certainly, no serious government would leave these sectors, which are crucial to national human capital development, largely unfunded while select government officials continue to live in obscene opulence in the midst of unprecedented poverty and human misery,” the party stated.

It added that the Ministry of Defence reportedly exceeded its budget at 113.45 per cent, largely through funding from the Service-Wide Vote, yet insecurity continues to worsen in parts of the country.

The ADC also questioned the government’s claims of historic revenue generation and strong foreign reserves, arguing that despite increased borrowing and taxation, contractors remain unpaid and citizens are experiencing heightened economic hardship.

“What is this government doing with all the money that accrues from all the loans, all the revenues, and all the increased taxes? Why are we worse off today than we were three years ago?” the statement queried.

The party further alleged that at least seven key appointments and several policy decisions have been reversed since the administration assumed office, attributing the trend to what it described as a government distracted by politics.

“The Tinubu government has proven that to them everything is about politics and power for its own sake,” the ADC said.