It’s An Impeachable Offence: Tinubu Under Pressure As Senate Questions Failure To Implement 2025 Budget

• Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno declares that the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Appropriation Act is a breach of the law and amounts to “an impeachable offence,” escalating legislative pressure on the Tinubu administration.

• The Senate questions why about 70 per cent of the 2025 budget was rolled over into 2026 despite an extension granted by the National Assembly, with lawmakers insisting that even the agreed 30 per cent implementation target was not achieved.

• Monguno demands explanations for the alleged retention of N1.7 trillion from the N3.7 trillion Federation Account revenue received last month and raises concerns that security agencies have reportedly received no capital allocations.

• Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele rejects misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s debt profile, explaining that National Assembly approvals for external loans are not equivalent to actual borrowings and pledges to publish a detailed breakdown of approved, drawn and utilised loans.

July 21, () — The President Bola Tinubu administration came under intense scrutiny on Monday after Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) declared that the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Appropriation Act constitutes a breach of the law and amounts to “an impeachable offence”.

Monguno made the declaration during an engagement between the Senate and the Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, where lawmakers grilled government officials over the implementation of the 2025 budget, revenue management and the country’s debt profile.

The senator questioned why the National Assembly had to extend the lifespan of the 2025 budget while simultaneously rolling over nearly 70 percent of its provisions into the 2026 fiscal framework, describing the development as evidence of poor fiscal execution.

Addressing the Finance Minister, Monguno said the impressive revenue figures presented by the ministry did not align with the reality of budget implementation.

“Honourable Minister, I have listened carefully to your brief and the very beautiful figures that you have reeled out. Why are these revenues going to?” he asked.

The lawmaker recalled that during deliberations on the budget, the Executive and Legislature agreed that at least 30 per cent of the 2025 Appropriation Act would be implemented before March.

However, he lamented that even the agreed benchmark was not achieved, forcing lawmakers to extend the budget’s validity until September.

“If the 2025 budget has not been implemented and we have to roll over 70 percent of the 2025 budget into 2026, and we promised that 30 percent would be implemented before March, yet up to March even that 30 percent was not implemented, then serious questions must be asked. The National Assembly had to extend the lifespan of the budget up to September just to allow the government to implement the 30 percent component. The issue of the 2026 budget has not even arisen. So why is the approved budget not being implemented?” Monguno asked.

The Function of Government Is Budget Implementation

Monguno argued that the essence of governance lies in translating approved budgets into tangible projects and services for citizens.

According to him, failure to implement the budget deprives Nigerians of the dividends of democracy.

“It is through the implementation of the budget that dividends of democracy are brought to the doorsteps of the people. If the budget is not being implemented, what is the function of government?” he asked.

He further expressed concern over the funding of security agencies, saying committees of the National Assembly had been informed that several agencies were yet to receive capital allocations.

“Security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government. Yet all the security agencies we have interacted with reported receiving zero allocation in terms of capital expenditure”, he said.

Questions Over ₦1.7 Trillion Retention

The senator also questioned the handling of Federation Account revenues, alleging that although about ₦3.7 trillion accrued last month, only ₦2 trillion was distributed among the Federal, State and Local Governments.

He demanded an explanation for the alleged retention of about ₦1.7 trillion.

“Where are these monies going to? Why is the budget not implemented? Because it is a breach of the law and it is an impeachable offence.

“About ₦3.7 trillion was received last month, and only ₦2 trillion was disbursed to the three tiers of government. About ₦1.7 trillion was retained. Why? Why not disburse all the ₦3.7 trillion to the three tiers of government? This is my question.”

Finance Minister Explains Debt Reporting

Responding, the Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, said misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s debt profile often arise because approvals granted by the National Assembly are mistaken for actual borrowings.

According to him, legislative approval merely authorises the government to borrow if necessary and does not automatically translate into debt.

“There is a need for clarification in terms of how debt numbers are reported. For external loans, we always need the approval of the National Assembly. What tends to happen is that once the approval is granted, it is reported, and many people assume that the money has already been borrowed. When the funds are eventually drawn down, it is reported again”, Oyedele stated.

He cited last year’s approval of approximately $20 billion under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), noting that many Nigerians wrongly interpreted the approval as actual borrowing.

The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Finance is preparing a detailed public report showing the amount approved by the National Assembly, the actual amount borrowed, and how such funds have been utilised.

“We are currently finalising this breakdown in the Ministry of Finance. We will make it available to the public. It will show how much the National Assembly approved, how much we have actually borrowed, and how it has been spent”, he added.

Growing Pressure on Tinubu Administration

The heated exchange reflects growing concern within the National Assembly over the pace of budget implementation despite improvements in government revenue collections and ongoing fiscal reforms.

With lawmakers questioning the execution of approved expenditures, funding for security agencies and the management of Federation Account revenues, the Tinubu administration is likely to face intensified legislative oversight in the coming months as it seeks to implement the outstanding components of the 2025 budget while preparing the 2026 fiscal proposals.